Bomb delivered to police
Bomb squad experts were called to Matamata after an old military practice bomb had been left outside the police station, under a tree.
Waikato police Senior Sergeant Greg Foster said the device was discovered in the garage of a home in Helensville, Auckland.
A local woman then drove it from her parents’ Auckland home back to Matamata.
‘‘She has put it under a tree outside the station, which would have been closed at the time.’’
The woman then phoned the police Northern Communications Centre to alert them the item was there, he said.
It was wrapped in newspaper and left inside a cardboard box.
‘‘If someone does find a bomb they should leave it where it is, clear the area and call 111. ’’
The inert head of the air force practice bomb was believed to be an estimated 20 to 30 years old.
Officers at the station photographed the device and sent it to the Aucklandbased army bomb disposal team for identification.
‘‘On advice from the defence force, police removed it and took it to the rear carpark of police station as not to inconvenience the public.’’
The disposal team arrived mid Monday morning and took the device back to Auckland with them, where it was disposed of.
Foster confirmed there was no risk to the public. Foster said the discovery of old bombs was quite common.
A number of bombs had been found beneath houses around the Whangaparoa area of Auckland, near the RNZAF Base.
He says if someone does find a bomb they should leave it where it is, clear the area and call 111.