Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

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Police are appealing to the public for information on the whereabouts of Blake Potene-Walsh, 30, who has a Warrant to Arrest and is wanted by Police.

He is wanted for escaping custody and Police believe someone may have information on his whereabouts.

Anyone with information is urged not to approach him and instead to call 111 immediately and quote file number 241128/7964.

Alternatively information can be provided anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

ENDS.

Holly McKay/NZ Police

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Police acknowledge the findings of the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) in relation to a fatal fleeing driver incident in June 2024.

The fatal crash occurred on Lambie Drive, Manukau on 17 June after a stolen vehicle was signalled to stop, but failed to do so and ended up crashing into a tree.

The driver died at the scene and the passenger was seriously injured.

Officers had earlier stopped the vehicle in Manukau after noticing the number plates had been reported stolen and spoke to the driver before he drove off at speed.

Another Police unit signalled for the vehicle to stop however it continued on.

Two other officers were alerted to the fleeing driver and positioned themselves to deploy road spikes in an attempt to stop the vehicle, however when the driver saw the officer step out from behind a sign he swerved and lost control, crashing into a tree.

The investigation found that the vehicle and plates were stolen and that the driver had methamphetamine in his system, was breaching a court-imposed curfew, and was driving dangerously.

Police agree with the Authority’s findings that two officers breached policy concerning the planned use of road spikes by not informing the Emergency Communications Centre (ECC) of their position and intention to use them.

Police note the Authority’s other findings around the incident.

Counties Manukau District Commander Superintendent Shanan Gray says Police actions should be considered in the context of all the circumstances surrounding this event.

“Footage shows our staff had seconds to make a decision around whether or not to lay road spikes, and in this timeframe were unable to advise ECC of their plan due to other radio traffic.

“Staff who attend these incidents need to make decisions based on the threat and circumstances as they present, and without the benefit of hindsight.”

The staff involved were subject to a confidential employment process and remain employed with New Zealand Police.

ENDS.

Holly McKay/NZ Police

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Please attribute to Detective Senior Sergeant Dave Thompson:

A 42-year-old Palmerston North man has been arrested and charged in relation to a serious assault in Cloverlea last month.

A man was found at a Cecil Place address with critical injuries on 1 March 2025 and continues to recover in hospital.

The 42-year-old has been charged with Wounding with Intent to Cause Grievous Bodily Harm and will appear in court today.

He was arrested at 2pm yesterday in the Roslyn area.

Over the past few weeks, a huge effort has gone into locating this man with several addresses searched. 

It is great that yesterday’s coordinated response and arrest means we can put him before the courts.  

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre.

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Police can now release the name of the woman who died in a crash on State Highway 1, Marton on 26 March.

She was 24-year-old My Marie Harder Clemensen, from Khandallah, Wellington.

Police send our condolences to her family and friends at this difficult time.

Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

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Attributable to Detective Gerhard Jacobs, SAR Incident Controller:

A family walking on Mt Taranaki who were underprepared for the conditions is prompting a reminder from Police to those heading out this long weekend.

Police received a call about 6:30pm last night reporting that a man and two children were overdue returning from the Pouakai Range.

Police Search and Rescue were engaged, as were Land Search and Rescue volunteers, and a Department of Conservation volunteer.

The family were unfamiliar with the area, and underprepared for the cold conditions.

LandSAR volunteers walked four hours through near-freezing temperatures and 50km/h winds, to then escort the family out and to safety.

The trio were all eventually out by around midnight.

Police would like to remind people walking in the outdoors – particularly on the unforgiving Mt Taranaki – that preparation is key, and to know your limits.

In this instance last night, the family had changed their plans without informing anyone, and the man had just 5 per cent battery on his phone as emergency services were attempting to gain their location by it via GPS.

Fortunately, the group made it out safely, however the outcome could have been very different.

This is a reminder to please always take two forms of communication with you when in and around Mt Taranaki, and be prepared to stay out overnight should you be caught out.

If you get into trouble, please call 111 as soon as possible, as this will enable an emergency response at the earliest opportunity.

Police would like to thank Taranaki LandSAR, and the Department of Conservation, for their dedication and response last night in tough conditions.

ENDS

Issued by the Police Media Team

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Police can now name the person who died following a crash in Woodville on 4 April.

She was 52-year-old Rochelle Marie Ealam, of Southbridge, Selwyn.

Our thoughts are with her loved ones at this difficult time.

Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

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Police can now advise one person has died in a crash on State Highway 3 in Taranaki this afternoon.

The crash, involving two cars, was reported to Police at 2.30pm.

In addition to the fatality, two people sustained serious injuries and two people have moderate injuries.

State Highway 3 is closed between Mangamaio Road and Pukaruhe Road.

Motorists are asked to take alternative routes where possible, or delay travel.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre. 

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The 16-year-old girl subject to an amber alert in New Plymouth overnight has been located safe and well.

Police would like to thank the members of the public who provided information that assisted in locating them.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

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Police are asking for witnesses to come forward after a cyclist died following a crash in New Plymouth last week.

Emergency services were called to the scene at the intersection of Powderham Street and Mt Edgecumbe Street about 12.35pm on Saturday 12 April.

The cyclist was transported to hospital, where they sadly died on Tuesday.

Police are now working to establish the full circumstances of the crash and are appealing for witnesses and dashcam footage.

If you were in the area at the time, and saw a man riding a bicycle carrying fishing gear, or may have footage of the incident, please come forward and speak to us.

You can do so by calling 105 and quoting reference number 250415/6545.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

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Police accept the findings by the Independent Police Conduct Authority in relation to a fatal crash which occurred following a Police pursuit near Ōtaki.

First and foremost, our thoughts and sympathies are with the people and families impacted by this crash.

On 26 April 2024, police briefly pursued a stolen vehicle on State Highway 1, south of Levin, after it was involved in an aggravated robbery in Ōtaki. Police abandoned the pursuit due to high speeds of the driver. They later found the vehicle driving north in the southbound lane of the expressway and it eventually crashed head on into another vehicle.

Tragically, the driver and one passenger of the stolen vehicle died, and another passenger suffered serious injuries. The four people in the other vehicle suffered serious to moderate injuries.

Relieving Central District Commander Inspector Ross Grantham says the IPCA found that overall Police managed this complex and dangerous fleeing driver incident appropriately in the circumstances:

“The outcome of this incident, which was the death of two young people and serious injuries to five members of the public is a tragedy and was completely avoidable.

Police use every serious incident as an opportunity to learn and we note the minor breaches of our police policy raised by the IPCA and have taken these onboard,” says Inspector Grantham.

The IPCA has recommended Police amend their Fleeing Driver Policy to specify that when a police vehicle is carrying crew members, those crew members are responsible for managing police communications during pursuits. Police are considering this recommendation.

ENDS

Issued by the Police Media Centre