New Zealand Police storm Queenstown Gardens after a man was spotted appearing to be armed with a rifle

Dozens of armed police have swarmed a busy tourist spot after an umbrella was mistaken for a rifle.

The alarm was raised when a hooded man began pointing what looked like a black firearm at passers-by at Marine Parade, in Queenstown, New Zealand on Wednesday.  

A shocked onlooker called triple-0, sparking a major police response.

The nearby Queenstown Gardens was plunged into lockdown following reports the armed man was heading towards the area. 

Marine Parade was also cordoned off with people ordered to leave the area.  

It wasn't until police scoured CCTV footage that they realised the man's 'weapon' was actually an umbrella. 

New Zealand Police Senior Sergeant Glenn Wilkinson said the man was carrying the umbrella pretending it was a rifle by cocking the item and pointing at onlookers.

'It warranted quite a major response to keep the public safe and locate him,' Sgt Wilkinson told Stuff. 

 'It definitely looked like an issue - the way he was carrying it, the length, colour and shape of the object'.

'We couldn't rule out that it wasn't a firearm.' 

Sergeant Wilkinson said police are still looking for the man and would like to speak to him about his behaviour.

He said his actions could potentially be considered an offence. 

Daily Mail Australia has contacted New Zealand Police for further comment. 

Marine Parade is a popular tourist destination overlooking Lake Wakatipu. 

The area is renowned for its scenic views and beaches that is frequented by visitors during the summer. 

New Zealand banned the use of semiautomatic weapons and sweeping legislation was introduced in parliament in April 2019. 

The change was brought about after gunman Brenton Tarrant shot dead 51 worshippers inside two mosques in Christchurch less than a month earlier. 

The law banned several weapons including assault rifles and semi-automatic guns. 

Anyone caught using or stockpiling these weapons could be put behind bars for five years.