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Trio before the courts following Operation Mist

Source: New Zealand Police

Three people have been arrested and charged on a range of drug-related offences following a planned operation in Invercargill.

After an intensive investigation into the supply and sale of illicit drugs in the Invercargill area, Southland Police’s Organised Crime Group terminated Operation Mist on 6 and 7 September 2025, preventing “astronomical” harm across Southland.

Police executed four search warrants simultaneously at various addresses in Southland and located an ounce (28 grams) of pre-packed methamphetamine, quantities of cannabis and class A and B drugs, $10,000 in cash, and multiple items related to the sale and supply of drugs.

As a result, three people were arrested. They appeared in court on a range of drug related charges and Police have not ruled out further charges.

Southern District Organised Crime Group Manager, Detective Senior Sergeant Greg Baird says the operation’s success was the result of strong teamwork across a number of Police workgroups.

“The number of teams involved in this investigation is not only a testament to the level of collaboration that we have come to rely upon in Southland – but also represents the dedication Police have to disrupting this type of offending.

“It’s estimated that the methamphetamine seized alone has a street value of $21,000 and the social harm this could cause would be astronomical.

“I am extremely please with this result and would like to commend the teams on their efforts,” Detective Senior Sergeant Baird says.

Police will continue to target organised criminal behaviour and urge the public to report any criminal or suspicious activity by calling 111 if it is happening now, or 105 if it is after the fact.

You can also make a report anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

ENDS

Issued by the Police Media Centre.

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Blenheim residents warned to be cautious after rubbish fire

Source: Radio New Zealand

An aerial view of Blenheim, New Zealand. 123RF

Marlborough District Council are warning residents to be cautious of residual smoke after a Blenheim rubbish treatment plant blaze.

Fire crews were called to the Resource Recovery Centre in Wither Road at 2:50pm on Thursday.

Over two and a half hours later the council said the blaze was still burning, with it taking possibly three to four hours before it is put out completely.

All staff were evacuated and were safe.

The council said the cause of the fire was not yet known and a investigation team has been called.

The facility, and the dump shop will remain closed until further notice.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

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Kmart sold 67k units of potentially asbestos-laced play sand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Kmart signage at the Westfield St Lukes mall. RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly

It’s been revealed Kmart NZ’s sold tens of thousands of pots of potentially asbestos-laced children’s play sand.

The retail giant has sold 67,000 units of coloured children’s sand across the four products. That number doesn’t include suspect products sold through different retailers.

The sand has been sold at Kmart for several years, with the pink magic sand sales dating back to 2015, according to the Product Safety website.

The Kmart 14-piece Sandcastle Building Set, Blue Magic Sand, Green Magic Sand, Pink Magic Sand have been found to contain asbestos. Supplied / MBIE

In a statement, Kmart apologised for the inconvenience caused by the recalled products. It said whenever there is any potential risk associated with a product, they act “swiftly and proactively”.

Kmart has withdrawn all sand-based toys from sale as a precaution.

It said the risk that any asbestos found is likely to be airborne or fine enough for inhalation is low.

The sand is part of a massive recall that’s expanded even further on Thursday.

The latest contaminated item added to the list is 380 gram pots of craft sand in 15 different colours.

Samples of the product, which are sold in dozens of cut price retailers and dollar stores, have tested positive for asbestos.

The 380 gram pots of craft sand in 15 different colours have been recalled. Product Safety

MBIE and other agencies are proactively testing samples from other similar products that are available in New Zealand.

Testing of other play sands in New Zealand is ongoing, MBIE said.

“MBIE and other agencies are proactively testing samples from other similar products identified available in the New Zealand market. We are expecting to receive the first further results later this week and will update our partners and New Zealanders as they are received,” an MBIE spokesperson said.

Some councils have set up drop-offs sites for the recalled products.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

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Two Waikanae incidents, including death, are likely linked, police say

Source: Radio New Zealand

Emergency services at the scene. Supplied

Police say they believe two incidents – where one man died and another suffered serious injuries – in Waikanae on Wednesday are related.

Three men aged 20, 25 and 26 are facing charges of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm after a man was found critically injured in Kakariki Grove about 3.15pm.

At the time, Detective Inspector Jamie Woods said the man died at the scene despite medical attention.

On Thursday, Woods said police were treating the death as a homicide and further charges were “currently being considered”.

He said another man was found with serious injuries just over eight kilometres away in Hadleigh Court, Paraparaumu at about 4.25pm on Wednesday.

“We believe the incidents in Kakariki Grove and Hadleigh Court are related, and we are working to establish exactly what has occurred, and to identify and locate anyone else who may have been involved,” Woods said.

A neighbour of the Kakariki Grove address told RNZ they were outside on Wednesday afternoon when they heard loud voices and what “appeared to be a gunshot”.

“Then the screaming got louder and there was a second shot, I think.”

The person said the commotion was followed by the sound of cars “taking off down the street”.

They said neighbours were a little bit nervous and shaken up.

Woods appealed to members of the public who had information about either incident to get in touch.

“A large number of officers from across Wellington District have been deployed to assist in this investigation, and Waikanae residents can expect to see a continued police presence in the Kakariki Grove and Hadleigh Court areas as we continue our enquiries,” Woods said.

A police car on Kakariki Grove in Waikanae. Supplied

Another neighbour told RNZ armed police were stationed outside the property on Thursday morning.

“They’re the big guns, not the small ones.”

They said there were tents and plastic on the ground at the house and residents were signing in and out of the street cordon.

Residents were “battening down,” they said.

“It’s kinda freaky.”

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

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Concerned parents and teachers drop off potenitally contaminated coloured play sand at Auckland Council drop sites

Source: Radio New Zealand

Concerned parents and teachers have been bagging up and delivering children’s play sand which could be contaminated with asbestos to designated council centres.

The products had been sold in both New Zealand and Australia and subject to multiple safety recalls.

At the Auckland Council asbestos lab in Auckland’s Grafton, Kedgley Intermediate learning and support coordinator Jane Goodill was shocked to learn they had the sand at her school.

She said she felt “horror” when she realised.

“We had some of the sand. I looked at the bar code and found it was a different bar code than the recalled ones but it was the same product, same colours, same seller, but different weight.”

Adrian Blake throws away potentially hazardous sand contaminated with asbestos. RNZ/Calvin Samuel

To be perfectly safe, she said it was decided to get rid of it.

Adrian Blake, an Auckland father, said he and his wife were “pretty shocked” when they heard about the recall.

He said his children had played with the sand.

“I’m shocked that the product standard hasn’t been met. Surprised for a product that kids play with that it wasn’t checked more.”

The free drop off in Auckland’s Grafton. RNZ/Calvin Samuel

Blake said he was pleased the council had come up with a solution for families unsure of what to do with the sand.

Auckland Council set up a drop-off site for the sand at the council asbestos lab on Kari St in Grafton.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

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Better weather forecasting system passes first reading

Source: New Zealand Government

Legislation to bring New Zealand’s trusted weather forecasting agencies together has passed its first reading, Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Dr Shane Reti and State Owned Enterprises Minister Simeon Brown says. 

“The Meteorological Services (Acquisition and Policies) Legislation Amendment Bill will enable Earth Sciences New Zealand to formally acquire MetService, bringing together our key meteorological and climate expertise and infrastructure, strengthening New Zealand’s understanding and response to climate and natural hazards,” Dr Reti says.

“It also aims to remove the fragmentation that occurs through having two government-owned companies in weather forecasting,” Mr Brown says.

The Meteorological Services (Acquisition and Policies) Legislation Amendment Bill makes some technical changes to allow Earth Sciences NZ to take on MetService, including:

Removing MetService from the State-Owned Enterprises Act 1986.
Amending the Crown Research Institutes Act 1992 to require Earth Sciences NZ to publish its observational weather data access policy.
Exempting the acquisition from Part 3 of the Commerce Act 1986 (Commerce Act) on public policy grounds, on the basis that the public benefits of integration outweigh any theoretical competition concerns. The Commerce Act will, however, continue to apply as normal post-acquisition.

“New Zealanders will continue to see MetService’s known and trusted brand reporting on the weather and MetService will remain the country’s internationally authorised meteorologist. This will ensure both continuity and a single, authorised voice for public safety messaging in times of severe weather,” Mr Brown says. 

“Bringing MetService and Earth Sciences New Zealand together means more Kiwis will be able to access clearer insights into our climate, more accurate long-term weather forecasting and faster warnings.

“Our scientists will be able to better collaborate and gain access to more infrastructure to collect and analyse weather data – from a broader network of weather stations to Earth Sciences’ new supercomputer.

“This Bill is another step in the Government’s wider work to develop a science system that’s more collaborative, more efficient and more future-focused, to support New Zealanders and New Zealand businesses to thrive,” says Dr Reti.

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Te Pāti Māori MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke breaks silence on MPs expulsion

Source: Radio New Zealand

Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke. Lillian Hanly

Te Pāti Māori’s youngest MP has broken her silence, following the expulsion of her former colleagues, saying it has felt like “a divorce between two parents.”

“My answer to both sides face to face has been that you are all in the wrong.”

Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke says she’s “watched, listened and observed” over the past six months, since Takutai Tarsh Kemp’s passing, and observed the “division” of Te Pāti Māori.

“I’ve heard both sides – trust me, I’ve heard it all,” she said, “sometimes I’ve wanted to give them all a hug and a hiding at the same time – all sides.”

Te Pāti Māori has been in a period of turmoil culminating in the expulsion of MPs Mariameno Kapa-Kingi and Tākuta Ferris.

The remaining MPs – Oriini Kaipara and Maipi-Clarke – had stayed silent, until Maipi-Clarke made her remarks at Parliament on Thursday.

Kaipara was yet to speak publicly, but attended a meeting with the ousted MPs last week.

Maipi-Clarke spoke on Thursday, firstly acknowledging the passing of Kemp and what followed.

She said she’d heard from “both sides” in the party’s split, and understanding both sides were “valid.” She wanted to bring the party together and figure out how she could be on both sides “without splitting.”

She said she wanted to take accountability, but acknowledged she didn’t have all the answers.

She said she wasn’t disrespecting any individuals, whānau or iwi, but it was “about having an honest conversation when we’re at fault, and so far, no one has taken ownership for the situation.”

The reality of the situation was that it was “a divide and conquer tactic, and there are no winners.”

She also acknowledged many significant movements, like the Kiingitanga for example, hadn’t come about without “challenges and differences.”

She referenced the Toitū te Tiriti hīkoi arriving at parliament in the tens of thousands, saying the next phase of that was “how can we work together, knowing that we all have unique differences, and actually accepting and embracing.”

She said both sides needed to be left to sort themselves out, and what was needed now was accepting, shifting and adapting to “new systems that can work with us and accept each other in differences, but the same purpose.”

“In a perfect world” she said she’d like to see Kapa-Kingi and Ferris returned to the party, but she also maintained confidence in Te Pāti Māori’s leadership.

Maipi-Clarke said Christmas was coming, a “real tough time” where people are thinking about grocery prices and gas prices and “this is definitely not what we need.”

She said she had “work to do” here at Parliament, “there’s collaborations with foundation for kids in need, for Christmas, bills that protect Tiriti o Waitangi that need to be signed, letters to select committees that need to be written.”

She said she would be meeting with her electorate in two weeks time, who will “determine” her future in politics, “whether I’m still the right voice and whether this is still the right waka and movement.”

“In a place of power, the greatest move you can do is give it to your people to decide and direct the next course we take.”

Te Pāti Māori’s AGM will also be taking place early next month in Rotorua.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

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Eight injured in crash south of Hokitika

Source: Radio New Zealand

The crashed closed part of SH6. RNZ / Patrice Allen

A crash south of Hokitika on the West Coast has left eight people injured, four seriously.

The multi-vehicle crash happened on State Highway 6 near Donoghues Road in Ross, shortly after 1pm on Thursday.

St John says two people in a serious condition were flown by helicopter to Christchurch Hospital and two others were taken to Greymouth Hospital.

Two people in a moderate condition and two with minor injuries were also taken to Greymouth.

The highway is closed between Kakapotahi and Ross and is expected to be blocked for some time.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

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Concrned parents and teachers drop off potenitally contaminated coloured play sand at Auckland Council drop sites

Source: Radio New Zealand

Concerned parents and teachers have been bagging up and delivering children’s play sand which could be contaminated with asbestos to designated council centres.

The products had been sold in both New Zealand and Australia and subject to multiple safety recalls.

At the Auckland Council asbestos lab in Auckland’s Grafton, Kedgley Intermediate learning and support coordinator Jane Goodill was shocked to learn they had the sand at her school.

She said she felt “horror” when she realised.

“We had some of the sand. I looked at the bar code and found it was a different bar code than the recalled ones but it was the same product, same colours, same seller, but different weight.”

Adrian Blake throws away potentially hazardous sand contaminated with asbestos. RNZ/Calvin Samuel

To be perfectly safe, she said it was decided to get rid of it.

Adrian Blake, an Auckland father, said he and his wife were “pretty shocked” when they heard about the recall.

He said his children had played with the sand.

“I’m shocked that the product standard hasn’t been met. Surprised for a product that kids play with that it wasn’t checked more.”

The free drop off in Auckland’s Grafton. RNZ/Calvin Samuel

Blake said he was pleased the council had come up with a solution for families unsure of what to do with the sand.

Auckland Council set up a drop-off site for the sand at the council asbestos lab on Kari St in Grafton.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

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Wellington City Council votes to review Golden Mile

Source: Radio New Zealand

Wellington City Council has voted to do a review of the Golden Mile project. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

The new Wellington City Council have voted to do a review of the contentious Golden Mile project.

Council officers are now predicting the project, which was budgeted to cost $139 million, could cost up to $220 million.

Some works have already begun on the project, but council officers said in October it was discovered that the Courtenay Place works, which are currently under negotiation, are now expected to exceed budget by $15 to $25 million dollars.

It’s the second time this year a budget blowout has been reported on the project. In August a $20 million blowout was reported, but the project was brought back into budget.

Mayor Andrew Little described the review as the responsible thing to do, he said the cost of the project had got to a level where they could not proceed in good conscious as if nothing had changed.

But he said the objectives of the Golden Mile were good.

Meanwhile Deputy Mayor Ben McNaulty said the council couldn’t afford the cost blow out, particularly in light of recent blow outs with the Town Hall and the Sludge Minimisation Plant.

“We can’t afford it, it’s just that black and white”

Councillor Rebecca Matthews said the council had far too many times pressed paused when they should have pressed fast forward.

She was concerned the review could represent the first step in terminating the project. She said she hoped she was wrong in her fears.

The vote passed with 12 in favour and 4 opposed. Those opposed were Matthews, Laurie Foon, Jonny Osborne and Geordie Rogers.

New Eastern Ward Councillor Karl Tiefenbacher. Supplied

‘Council needs to create an environment where people can afford to live’

New Eastern Ward Councillor Tiefenbacher told councillors he wanted to be proud, but couldn’t be until the council looked back at the end of the term and saw Wellington was a better place than it is now.

He said the council needed to create an environment where people could afford to live, businesses could thrive and there were opportunities for youth.

Fellow new Eastern Ward Councillor Sam O’Brien said many of the challenges Wellington faced were a result of choices, not chance.

He pointed to an infrastructure deficit, unaffordable rents and water challenges.

“None of this is inevitable it is the consequence of decisions to defer and deflect and hope that someone else will deal with it later.”

He said the council needed to invest in public services that made people’s lives better on a day-to-day basis.

Other councillors who made their maiden speeches were Matthew Reweti, Jonny Osborne, Afnan Al-Rubayee and Andrea Compton.

Councillor Ray Chung has kept his position as chairperson. RNZ / Mark Papalii

Some Councillors oppose appointment of Ray Chung as chairperson

While discussing chairperson appointments, new councillor Osborne said he, Foon, Matthews and Rogers did not support Ray Chung’s appointment.

“Undermining the mana and integrity of your colleagues by spreading offensive and misogynistic rumours is not good leadership,” he said.

Early this year former Mayor Tory Whanau released an email Chung sent to three fellow councillors in early 2023 recounting a story he’d been told by his neighbour about the neighbour’s son allegedly having a sexual encounter with the mayor.

But Osborne said as “constructive partners” and recognising this was a decision for the mayor, the green faction would vote in favour of the paper.

The vote passed unopposed.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand