Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: New Zealand Police

A homicide investigation has been launched following the discovery of a body on Renall Street, Freeman’s Bay last night.

Auckland City CIB’s Detective Inspector Scott Beard says Police discovered the deceased around 10pm.

“Police are continuing to gather information from the scene and enquires into the exact circumstances surrounding what has occurred are ongoing.”

A person is in custody and Police are not looking for anyone else in connection at this stage.

Detective Inspector Beard says a scene examination is under way at the address and there will be an increased Police presence in the area while the investigation continues.

“Members of the public can be assured there is no risk to public safety.”

A post-mortem will be carried out in due course.

If you have any information that could assist the investigation, please make a report via 105, using the file number 250630/9878 and quote ‘Operation Yarrow’.

Alternatively, information can be provided anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111 or crimestoppers-nz.org.

Further information will be provided when we are able to do so.

ENDS.

Amanda Wieneke/NZ Police

Source: New Zealand Government

Thousands more New Zealanders will get the procedures they need faster, with the Government today announcing 21,000 more elective procedures over the next year through its Elective Boost programme, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.

“With over 215,000 procedures set to go ahead over the next year – over 21,000 more than previously planned – wait times will reduce, helping more Kiwis access life-changing operations like hip and knee replacements and cataract surgeries sooner.  

“Our Government is focused on real delivery. For patients stuck on surgical waitlists, that means getting their procedures faster, no matter where they live or who provides it. 

“We’re making the health system work smarter, using both public hospitals and private providers in a coordinated national effort. New Zealanders don’t care who does the operation – they just want it done and done quickly.” 

Many of the procedures will be delivered in Health New Zealand’s dedicated elective facilities, including Manukau Health Park, Tōtara Haumaru on the North Shore, and Burwood Hospital in Christchurch. Others will be completed by private hospitals under new national agreements. 

The next phase of the Elective Boost follows strong early results: 
 

• More than 12,764 procedures delivered to 1 June, outpacing the 10,579 target set for 30 June.
• The majority of procedures delivered have been for people waiting longer than four months for treatment.
• Statements of work issued to 60 private providers to deliver surgery at consistent national rates.  

“We’re taking a joined-up approach to procedure delivery. That means removing hold-ups, providing certainty, and unlocking capacity across the system,” Mr Brown says. 

“This is how we start to fix the waitlist crisis that grew under the previous government. Too many Kiwis have been waiting in pain for procedures that could transform their lives – a tradie needing a shoulder operation to get back to work, a nana needing cataract surgery to see her grandkids clearly, or a child waiting months for tonsils to be removed. We’re turning that around.” 

Mr Brown says the long-term goal is to treat 95 per cent of patients within four months by 2030 as part of the Government’s health targets. 

“Our Government is investing $30 billion a year in health, and we’re backing that investment with a relentless focus on delivery. We are ramping up capacity in public hospitals, partnering with private providers in a more strategic way, and most importantly, we are getting Kiwis the care they need,” Mr Brown says.  

“We’ve already delivered thousands of extra procedures through the Elective Boost, and now we’re building on that with thousands more to put patients first.”

Source: New Zealand Police

Amohau Street in Rotorua is closed following a crash involving a truck and a pedestrian.

It happened around 6am near the intersection with Ranolf Street.

The pedestrian is understood to be seriously injured.

The Serious Crash Unit has been advised, and motorists are asked to take alternate routes.

ENDS

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) has released proposed changes to reshape transport in central Dunedin and achieve safe and efficient access to the city’s new hospital.

From today, people can have their say on the preferred option for State Highway 1 Cumberland Street and State Highway 88 St Andrew Street, both of which are key routes connecting people to the new Dunedin Hospital. The hospital’s main inpatient and outpatient public entrances will both open onto the intersection of these two streets.

The proposed roading changes, developed in partnership with Dunedin City Council after previous rounds of community feedback, can be viewed in detail here.

“The new hospital development is a once in a generation development for Dunedin. It presents an exciting opportunity to reshape the surrounding transport infrastructure to best serve the community,” says NZTA Director of Regional Relationships, Ian Duncan.

“Up to 10,000 pedestrians will be walking in and around the new hospital facilities daily when open. Many of these people will be ill, elderly or vulnerable, so safety will be paramount. Access to the new hospital will need to cater for frequent pick-ups and drop-offs by vehicles, and for unimpeded access by emergency services.”

“At the same time, these changes we have laid out are aimed at ensuring we continue to have good traffic flow for road users in and out of Dunedin’s CBD.”

Proposed changes include the following:

• A new Barnes Dance crossing (where all pedestrians cross the road at once) at the SH88 St Andrew Street/SH1 Cumberland Street intersection to help people reach the hospital public entrances safely. 
• Removal of the westbound right turn from SH88 St Andrew Street onto SH1 Cumberland Street to make space and time for the increased number of pedestrians, including people with mobility needs, to cross the road.
• Two new signalised pedestrian crossings on SH1 outside the Woolworths and the Centre City New World supermarkets.
• Changes to St Andrew Street and other nearby streets to help people driving, walking and cycling, and emergency vehicles, move safely and smoothly around the hospital and surrounding area.
• Frederick Street will become the new SH88, moving right turning traffic from St Andrew Street to other streets.

“Some of the proposed changes will mean road users having to adapt to new ways of moving through the area, but we think these are practical and sensible moves to make it safe and efficient for everyone,” Mr Duncan says.

“We intend to have clear signage and guidance in place when any changes are introduced to avoid confusion.”

“The removal of the right turn from St Andrew Street onto SH1 for westbound traffic is seen as the only practical option to give pedestrians enough time to cross safely and to keep traffic flowing.’’   

Removal of this right turn will mean Hanover and Frederick Streets are expected to become key alternative routes for light vehicles. Larger trucks are expected to use Ward Street and the overbridge onto Frederick Street as an alternative route.

“Both Hanover and Frederick Streets can handle the expected changes in traffic volumes, and we don’t believe travel times are going to be greatly affected.”

The proposed changes do have some impact upon car parking, such as on the north side of St Andrew Street near Dunedin Central Fire Station where roading improvements mean the loss of 14 parks. This will be partially offset by new parks in Harrow Street, and analysis of public parking available in the wider vicinity of the new hospital shows there are multiple off-road parking facilities available to be used in addition to provision being made at the hospital itself.

The proposed changes for SH1 and SH88 build on earlier work in 2023, when the decision was made to keep Dunedin’s existing SH1 one-way system.

Mr Duncan says public feedback on the current proposed changes will need to be considered before any work on the affected streets take place over the next few years.  

People can view the proposed changes and give their feedback via an online form. Printed material with the proposed changes and feedback forms can be found in the next few days at Dunedin City Council libraries and service centres, and those not online can send their feedback to NZTA by post.

View proposed changes and give feedback 

Feedback closes on 28 July, 2025.

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government is making it easier for police to punish shoplifters and is introducing stronger penalties for low-level theft, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee say. 

“Public confidence in our justice system is undermined if people can steal with apparent impunity. It’s disheartening, and our government will not sit by while shoplifters rob businesses of their livelihoods,” Mr Goldsmith says.

“Currently, the administrative burden can deter retailers from making official complaints, and lower-level offending often goes unreported or unpunished. Our government is restoring real consequences for crime, and shoplifting is no exception.”

The proposed changes include:

Introducing an infringement regime for shoplifting in retail premises. For stolen goods valued up to $500, infringement fees will be up to $500. For goods valued over $500, fees will be up to $1,000.
Strengthening the penalties for theft. The maximum penalties will be one year imprisonment (if the value is approximately $2,000 or less), or seven years imprisonment (if value is approximately more than $2,000).
Creating a new aggravated theft offence for when the value of the goods is under $2,000 and the theft is carried out in a manner that is offensive, threatening, insulting, or disorderly.  

“Harsher penalties could mean up to twice as long behind bars for aggravated theft, and criminals will be forced to think twice before destroying more lives,” Mrs McKee says.

“Our government is focused on restoring law and order, reducing violent crime, and putting victims first in our justice system.
“I want to thank the Ministerial Advisory Group, and its Chair Sunny Kaushal, for their work shaping this proposal.”
These changes fulfill a commitment in the National/New Zealand First coalition agreement to ensure real consequences for lower-level crimes such as shoplifting.

Source: New Zealand Police

Police advise motorists travelling on the Upper Harbour Highway (SH18) to expect delays tonight.

A four-car crash heading westbound has occurred just after the Tauhinu Road on-ramp, near Greenhithe.

There are no serious injuries to report.

While the vehicles are being cleared, there is an extensive backlog of traffic towards the Albany area.

Please allow additional time to reach your destination safely this evening.

ENDS

Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

Source: New Zealand Police

Police can now release the name of the man who died following a crash in Redwoodtown on 18 June.

He was 50-year-old Reginald Anthony Mischeski, of Mayfield.

Our thoughts are with those close to him at this difficult time.

Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash remain ongoing.

ENDS

Issued by the Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Government

Former Acting Governor Grant Spencer has been appointed to the Reserve Bank of New Zealand Board, Finance Minister Nicola Willis has announced.
Board member Byron Pepper has been reappointed. Both are on five-year terms, beginning today.
“Grant Spencer brings expertise in central banking, financial stability, and monetary policy,” Nicola Willis says.
Spencer also served as Deputy Governor, Head of Financial Stability from 2007 to 2017 and was Acting Governor from 2017 to 2018.
Nicola Willis says Byron Pepper’s reappointment reflects his contribution to the Reserve Bank Board.
“Mr Pepper has recently been made chairman of the RBNZ’s Financial Stability Oversight Committee. He is an experienced investment banking advisor and director with more than 25 years of experience, including 22 years at Goldman Sachs, bringing expertise in corporate strategy, financial services, and insurance.”
Nicola Willis also acknowledged the contribution of Rawinia Higgins, who retired from the Board effective June 30.
There remains one vacancy on the Board, which will be filled in due course.

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) has completed the transfer of safety camera operations from NZ Police.

After a 12-month period of transition, as of today (1 July 2025) NZTA is solely responsible for the operation of the safety camera network of around 150 cameras formerly operated by Police. This is planned to expand to around 200 cameras by 2027, including fixed speed cameras, mobile speed cameras, red light cameras and average (point to point) speed cameras. 

Details on the current safety camera network, including the locations of fixed cameras, can be found on the NZTA website. 

Fixed safety camera locations

NZTA Head of Regulatory Strategic Programmes Tara Macmillan says the transfer of safety cameras from NZ Police to NZTA will strengthen the road safety partnership between the two agencies, improve the effectiveness of safety cameras as an enforcement tool, and make New Zealand’s roads safer for everyone. 

“Managing roadside infrastructure like cameras is what NZTA does every day. Having responsibility for safety cameras allows us to use them where and when they will be most effective in reducing crashes, preventing serious injuries and saving lives,” says Ms Macmillan.  

“We’ve now rolled out signs at all fixed speed camera sites, giving drivers a fair warning to check their speed and slow down if needed.   

“These fixed cameras are installed at high-risk locations for crashes. Reminding drivers of that gives them the opportunity to slow down to protect themselves and others from, at worst injury or death, and at minimum, to avoid a ticket.” 

Ms Macmillan says the effectiveness of this approach in reducing speeds can be seen through data collected by NZTA at new speed camera sites collected before and after cameras and signs were installed. 

Safety cameras change driver behaviour

“The percentage of drivers travelling at or below the maximum speed limit at our new camera site on Mill Road in Pukekohe has increased from just 39 percent before the camera was installed to 99 percent after. Similarly, at our new camera site on SH1 at Kawakawa, compliance with the speed limit has increased from just 34 percent before the camera was installed to 94 percent after. 

“Across the ten new camera sites where we are currently tracking before and after data, the average compliance rate with speed limits has increased from 57 percent to 98 percent. 

“Fewer speeding vehicles at these high-risk sites make these roads safer for everyone who uses them. No matter what the cause of a crash, speed can be the difference between someone being killed, receiving a life changing injury or walking away unharmed.” 

As part of the transfer of cameras from Police, NZTA is also now operating mobile speed cameras in SUVs, alongside Police officers being highly visible on our roads. Both mobile cameras and officer enforcement deter speeding by operating anytime and anywhere.  

In addition to fixed and mobile speed cameras, NZTA is also planning the rollout of new average speed safety cameras along high-risk corridors and roads. This technology is internationally proven to be very effective at reducing deaths and serious injuries on longer sections of road.  The cameras work by calculating a vehicle’s average speed over a length of road between two cameras.  

Ms Macmillan says NZTA’s focus is on improving road safety, reducing crashes, preventing serious injuries and saving lives.  

“Speeding drivers can cause serious and irreparable harm on the roads, including deaths and serious injuries. Evidence shows that we can reduce the chance of people being killed or seriously injured in crashes if drivers travel within speed limits, and that is why we have safety cameras.”  

Source: New Zealand Police

A murder charge has been laid following the death of an inmate at Mount Eden Corrections Facility on 27 June.

“A 32-year-old man has been charged with murder,” acting Detective Inspector Greg Brand, of Auckland City CIB, says. 

“Police enquires are ongoing and at this stage and as this matter is before the courts Police are unable to comment further.”

The man will appear in the Auckland District Court on 3 July.

ENDS 

Nicole Bremner/NZ Police