Four men are due to appear in the Gisborne District Court today on kidnapping and aggravated robbery charges after a car deal went badly wrong.

The four males aged 20, 22 and 17 are facing charges of aggravated robbery, kidnapping and unlawful possession of a firearm after they were arrested last night. They are all from Gisborne.

Police say the four men put a Hilux ute for sale on Trade Me in December. In January, they swapped the ute for a Nissan Skyline owned by an Opotiki man. The vehicles were exchanged, but the Nissan Skyline recently broke down.

Detective Sergeant Theo Akroyd of Gisborne police said the two parties met last night after the owner of the Nissan contacted the four men after he realised he had left his wallet and some money in the vehicle. They arranged to meet in Opotiki to return the wallet to the man.

Police allege the four men decided they wanted their Hilux ute back and kidnapped the victim and stole the Hilux from him at gunpoint. He was allegedly dropped off unharmed last night near Hell's Gate by the four men.

After being alerted by the victim, police arrested the four men on their return to Gisborne last night. They are due to appear in the Gisborne District Court this afternoon.