Source: New Zealand Police
Motorists are advised to expect delays in Parnell this morning due to a building fire in Parnell Road.
Emergency Services responded to reports of a fire at about 6.45am.
Parnell Road, between Garfield Street and St Stephens Avenue, has been cordoned off in both directions.
Motorists are advised to seek an alternative route.
ENDS.
Holly McKay/NZ Police
Source: New Zealand Police
Motorists are advised to expect delays in Avondale this morning due to a building fire in Great North Road.
Emergency Services responded to reports of a fire at Saint Mary’s Catholic School at about 4.20am.
Great North Road, between Portage Road and Larch Road, is cordoned off and emergency services are in attendance.
There are no reports of injury.
Police will work with fire investigators to establish the circumstances of the fire.
ENDS.
Holly McKay/NZ Police
Source: New Zealand Police
Police can confirm one person has died following a crash on Telegraph Road, Burnham.
The crash involving two vehicles was reported at about 3.30pm.
The Serious Crash Unit is on scene.
The road is currently closed with diversions in place until the scene examination has been completed.
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Issued by the Police Media Centre
Source: New Zealand Police
State Highway 1 is closed south of Hampden, while emergency services respond to a crash.
The two-vehicle crash near Moeraki Boulders Road was reported at around 4:20pm.
Initial indications are that there are serious injuries.
Motorists are advised to avoid an unnecessary travel, as there are no alternate routes available.
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Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: New Zealand Police
War medals stolen from the mailbox of a veteran’s grandson in Wellsford earlier this month have been found and returned to their rightful owner.
On 9 July, Patrick Conlon made a report to Police after a valuable parcel was allegedly stolen from his mailbox.
Mr Conlon was understandably very upset by the theft – the parcel contained World War I medals that had been awarded to his grandfather, Elmer James Conlon.
Police established that the parcel had been delivered on 1 July, but had then gone missing before Mr Conlon could collect it.
Police appealed to the public for any information that could help locate the medals, or for any locals to report if they’d seen any suspicious activity in the area on the date of the theft.
Thankfully, yesterday, Police were contacted by the Wellsford War memorial museum staff advising that the medals had been located in their returns bin.
Senior Sergeant Damian Lawn says it appears someone had dropped them off overnight.
“We’re pleased that whoever took these medals did the right thing and returned them – obviously they are hugely significant to Mr Conlon and we are glad to be able to reunite him with them.
“We have fingerprinted the medals before returning them and we are continuing with our enquiries.”
Anyone who has any further information about the theft or those involved is asked to get in touch through our 105 service, using reference number 250709/8286.
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Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: New Zealand Transport Agency
With weather damage affecting critical routes across the top of the South Island, road users are warned to expect ongoing state highway closures and travel disruptions.
Mark Owen, Regional Manager Lower North Island/Top of the South, says with the school holidays ending this weekend, people can’t expect travel to be simple or easy.
“The fact is some routes have suffered significant damage from flooding, slips, and treefalls and won’t reopen to the public today.”
“Our advice is, don’t queue at state highway closure points and avoid the inland route between Nelson and Murchison. If you’re travelling between the top of the South and Canterbury, use State Highway 1 and the east coast instead,” Mr Owen says.
SH6 Rocks Road
State Highway 6 Rocks Road is not expected to reopen this weekend, and Mr Owen says it may remain closed into early next week. This will affect traffic, and delays and congestion can be expected while the closure remains in place.
“There are multiple slip zones and a serious risk of debris falling onto the road. Until these risks are mitigated, Rocks Road will remain closed to traffic, cyclists, and pedestrians. Please, for your own safety, stay out of the closure zone.”
“We will have a soft closure at the intersection of Russell Street, so local businesses can continue operating. Rest assured, contractors will do their best to reopen the route, but it is going to take some time,” Mr Owen says.
SH6 Belgrove to Murchison
Mr Owen says this route is expected to remain closed today as well.
“Our priority here is to punch a route through for first responders and restore a connection to cut-off communities like Tapawera. After that, we will work as hard as we can to get it open to the public.”
“There have been slips, tree falls, and flood damage along this section of the highway, and they will take time to clear,” Mr Owen says.
SH60 Tākaka Hill
Mr Owen says contractors are working hard to restore this route and reopen a connection to Tākaka and Golden Bay.
“A lifeline route for first responders and emergency services is the priority, and the highway is not expected to open to the public today.”
“There are a number of slips on the route, and these need to be inspected and assessed before the road can be safely reopened to the public,” Mr Owen says.
There is better news in Marlborough with all of the region’s highways open.
“Contractors managed to reopen State Highway 63 from Renwick to Korere-Tophouse Road to residents and essential travel at around 12:30 pm. The diversion at Andersons Bridge, put in place after flood damage two weeks ago, has held up to the heavy rain well.”
“Elsewhere it’s been a case of surface flooding and minor slips. Drivers can expect to see warnings in place and, with more rain forecast, they must drive to the conditions,” Mr. Owen says.
While the worst of the weather has passed, Mr Owen says its effect on State Highways will be ongoing.
“We are in response mode at the moment. Our focus is on reconnecting the network and restoring connections to cut-off communities.”
“However, once this passes, we will shift into recovery mode. This is where we plan and design what needs to be done to fix highways and infrastructure that have been badly damaged. This will take some time to finalise, and we don’t have the details yet. When we do, we will ensure affected communities are updated,” Mr Owen says.
Source: New Zealand Police
Motorists travelling on State Highway 29, Lower Kaimai, are advised to expect delays following a crash.
Emergency services were called to the single-vehicle crash near Hanga Road at around 2:30pm.
One person has sustained moderate injuries.
Diversions are in place, and motorists should expect delays.
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Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: New Zealand Government
A new dialysis unit will be established in Blenheim, providing life-changing support for local patients and their families closer to home, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.
“This is a fantastic example of local communities and health providers working together to deliver better, more accessible care,” Mr Brown says.
“For too long, people in Marlborough needing dialysis have had to travel to Nelson Hospital three times a week – resulting in a total of four to five hours of travel each week. That’s time away from family, work, and home, and it adds stress to what is already a challenging health journey.
“This new four-chair unit in Blenheim will significantly reduce the burden on patients and their families, while also freeing up space in Nelson Hospital for those requiring more specialist dialysis care. It’s a life-changing initiative that responds to local need and supports a collaborative approach to delivering healthcare.
“The unit will support clinically stable patients, as well as those who are capable of self-dialysis but don’t have the right setup at home. These patients will be able to use the facility while continuing to manage their own treatment in a supported environment.
“With an ageing population and higher rates of chronic kidney disease expected over the next decade, this unit will make a real difference for many people in the region.”
This initiative is a true example of partnership in action, bringing together Health New Zealand, Marlborough Primary Health, closely supported by local iwi, the Iwi Māori Partnership Board, and Māori health provider Te Piki Oranga. It reflects a shared commitment to delivering services that are responsive and locally led.
The facility also highlights the remarkable generosity of the Marlborough community. A number of local charities and philanthropic trusts have stepped up to fund dialysis chairs, TVs, resuscitation kits, heat pumps, and other vital equipment. Contributors include the Care Foundation, Marlborough Hospital Equipment Trust, with other interest expressed by Rātā Foundation, Churchill Trust, Lotteries, and Marlborough District Council, which provided both a cash grant and a fee waiver for the resource consent.
“This is a powerful example of local care, delivered by local people, for the benefit of the Marlborough community.
“The new dialysis unit will ease the burden on patients and their families by reducing travel, relieving stress, and ensuring more people can get the care they need, closer to home,” Mr Brown says.
The unit is expected to open in October 2025.
Source: New Zealand Police
Police is urgently issuing a correction to an earlier release that contained incorrect details of the person who died in a fatal crash in Seddon on 18 June.
The correct name of the man who died is Andres Bonifacio Hernan Vergara Oportot, 50, from Blenheim.
Our sincere apologies to anyone affected by this error.
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Source: New Zealand Government
New Zealand’s relationships in Southeast Asia have never been more important for our security and prosperity, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.
“As we deal with the current challenging, uncertain and disordered security environment, New Zealand is working ever more intensively with Southeast Asia,” says Mr Peters, who is currently in Malaysia for the East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers Meeting.
“In 2025, we celebrate 50 years of dialogue relations between New Zealand and the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN),” Mr Peters says.
“We are working towards agreeing a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with ASEAN, and this week’s meetings in Malaysia have been an important step towards achieving that goal by October 2025.
“This week’s engagements have enabled New Zealand to commemorate a half-century of dialogue with ASEAN and reinforce our position as a reliable and valuable partner,” Mr Peters says.
Yesterday’s meeting was Mr Peters’ tenth engagement with the East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers since his attendance at the inaugural Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Kuala Lumpur in December 2005.
“New Zealand is honoured to be among the original countries to establish the East Asia Summit as the region’s premier ASEAN-led strategic forum. Dialogue and cooperation between partners are more important than ever. New Zealand remains committed to our enduring partnership with ASEAN to shape the kind of region we all want.
“We reiterated our concern about the situation in Myanmar and tensions in the South China Sea, discussed security issues in the Middle East, and the increasingly serious challenges to the stability of the Indo-Pacific.”
Mr Peters also held bilateral talks with ministerial counterparts from Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Canada, Japan, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, the United States and Viet Nam.
The Minister also met with alumni of the Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship Programme.
“As New Zealand strengthens its ties with Southeast Asia, it is important we build on our existing people-centred connections. Our Manaaki Scholarship Programme is a key part of this,” Mr Peters says.
This week’s visit by Mr Peters to Malaysia was the 36th by New Zealand Ministers to Southeast Asia since February 2024.
“New Zealand continues to significantly lift effort and engagement in Southeast Asia in order to enhance New Zealand’s security and prosperity.
“We are grateful to ASEAN Chair Malaysia for its hosting of this week’s meetings. We look forward to continuing to build our bilateral relationship.”
Mr Peters arrives back in New Zealand later today (12 July).