NZ parliament evacuated in bomb threat

New Zealand's parliament house was evacuated after a suspicious package was found on the fifth floor, TVNZ reports.

A spokesman told TVNZ that an employee found the parcel in the Wellington building just before 9am. Police and emergency services were called to the scene, closing public access to the street.

Staff were allowed to return to their offices shortly after the evacuation, and details about why the package wsas considered suspicious were not immediately available.

According to the spokesman, the evacuation was a precautionary measure.

The building is affectionately known as the 'Beehive' due to its odd shape.