Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: New Zealand Police

A man allegedly displaying gang insignia in Kaitaia has drawn the attention of Police, resulting in the seizure of drugs utensils and rounds of ammunition.

During proactive patrols on Monday night, officers observed a vehicle on Allen Bell Drive, and signalled for it to stop.

“While speaking with the driver, officers noticed a cap bearing gang insignia resting on the man’s knee,” says Northland Road Policing Manager, Inspector John Fagan.

“The man was subsequently arrested for displaying gang insignia, which resulted in a search of his person uncovering methamphetamine utensils.

A further search of his vehicle resulted in locating an offensive weapon, 150 rounds of .22 calibre ammunition, and 24 shotgun shells.

“We’re pleased to have located and removed these items,” Inspector Fagan says. “The message is clear—there is no place for these items, Northland Police will continue to take a strong stance against gang activity across all our communities.

Our enforcement approach is firm and unwavering. We will actively disrupt gang influence wherever it appears and hold individuals accountable for any illegal behaviour.”

A 44-year-old man is scheduled to appear in the Kaitaia District Court facing charges of possessing an offensive weapon, displaying gang insignia, possessing utensils for methamphetamine, and unlawfully possessing ammunition.

ENDS.

Amanda Wieneke/NZ Police

Source: New Zealand Police

To be attributed to Detective Inspector Haley Ryan:

Hutt Valley Police have made significant progress in the investigation into the shooting of a 40-year-old Stokes Valley man on Sunday 3 August.

The man was shot outside his home address in Hanson Grove at 9am. He remains in a critical condition in Wellington Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit.

The investigation team has been assisted greatly by the Lower Hutt community, who have provided a number of CCTV images of the vehicle suspected to have been involved in this incident, travelling to and from Stokes Valley around the time of the shooting.

Police believe two men drove to the victim’s address in a purple Toyota Mark X station wagon, registration KMW290.  On their arrival the male passenger exited the vehicle, and moments later shot the victim.

It is also alleged the victim was then driven over by the Toyota vehicle before the vehicle was driven out of the Stokes Valley area.  The vehicle was located by Police a short time later and is currently being forensically examined.

A 25-year-old Taita man has been arrested and charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. He is due to reappear in Lower Hutt District Court on Thursday, 14 August.   

Police are making excellent progress on enquiries to identify and locate the second man in the vehicle – I am very confident we will identify him and hold him to account for his role in this incident.

To help us do that, we are still seeking CCTV or dashcam footage from members of the Lower Hutt community – specifically anyone who may have CCTV or dashcam footage of the Toyota Mark X station wagon in the Stokes Valley, Naenae or Taita areas between 8.30am and 9.30am on Sunday 3 August.

CCTV footage that captures Toyota Mark X station wagon and its occupants will be a crucial part of ensuring those responsible for critically injuring the victim will be held to account for their actions.

If you can help, please contact Police via 105 and quote file number 250803/0624. Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Police

Police can now name the man who died in a crash on the Harihari Highway, Kakapotahi on 1 June.

He was Mark Douglas Weir, aged 66, of Harihari.

Our thoughts remain with his family and friends at this time.

Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Police

A swift response saw an alleged offender’s joy ride end with a trip to Auckland for court.

Around 5.30am on Monday 11 August, a member of the public heard their vehicle start up outside their house in Kaiwaka and drive away.

Police were quickly on the scene and Eagle deployed to the area, who located the vehicle travelling through Wellsford.

“Eagle continued to track the vehicle as it made its way south,” Waitematā North Area Response Manager Senior Sergeant Carl Fowlie says.

“Staff were able to deploy spikes successfully near Makarau.”

The vehicle came to a stop on Kaipara Coast Highway and the sole occupant ran towards the Makarau River.

Delta has tracked the alleged offender, and he was taken into custody without any issue.

“This was good work by our staff resulting in the man’s arrest,” Senior Sergeant Fowlie says.

“Police will not tolerate this type of brazen offending in our community.”

A 49-year-old man appeared in the North Shore District Court charged with burglary, unlawfully taking a motor vehicle, and operating a vehicle recklessly. He has been remanded in custody to reappear on 2 October.

ENDS.

Amanda Wieneke/NZ Police

Source: New Zealand Police

Police can now name the woman who died following a crash on SH54 in Aorangi on 4 July.

She was Marie Lynette Buhck, 71, from Aorangi.

Our thoughts are with her family and friends at this difficult time.

Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: BNZ Statements

BNZ today cut fixed home loan rates across multiple terms in anticipation of next week’s expected OCR cut.

BNZ General Manager Home Lending James Leydon says the bank is delivering rate relief to customers now.

“These rate reductions across key fixed terms mean customers can access more competitive borrowing costs immediately.”

“We know household budgets remain tight for many New Zealanders, and today’s changes will help reduce monthly mortgage payments for those refinancing.

“The new rates are available for new customers as well as existing customers who are in their rollover period or currently on variable rates,” Leydon says.

Fixed home loan rates

Term	Current	Current	Differential
6 months	5.29% p.a.	5.09% p.a.	-0.20% p.a.
12 months	4.89% p.a.	4.79% p.a.	-0.10% p.a.
18 months	4.89% p.a.	4.79% p.a.	-0.10% p.a.
2 years	4.95% p.a.	4.89% p.a.	-0.06% p.a.
3 years	5.09% p.a.	4.99% p.a.	-0.10% p.a.

 

Effective 7am Wednesday 13 August

BNZ lending criteria (including minimum equity requirements), and terms apply. Rates subject to change. Up to $150 establishment fee and early repayment charges may apply.

 

The post BNZ cuts fixed home loan rates across multiple terms ahead of OCR announcement appeared first on BNZ Debrief.

Source: Press Release Service

Headline: Bookably Launches to Provide Kiwis with a More Affordable Way to Travel

New Zealand’s own Bookably is changing the holiday rental game with no platform service fees for guests, no commissions for hosts, and a low-cost membership that delivers big savings while keeping value in the local economy.

The post Bookably Launches to Provide Kiwis with a More Affordable Way to Travel first appeared on PR.co.nz.

Source: New Zealand Police

To be attributed to Detective Inspector Daryl Smith:

Two further men have been arrested and charged with murder in relation to the death of Tyreece Te Pairi in Hamilton late last month.

Tyreece, 20, was fatally injured during an altercation on Alexandra Street shortly after midnight on 20 July.

Earlier this month, two 19-year-old men appeared in Hamilton District Court on murder charges.

Two further men – aged 23 and 25 – were arrested this morning in South Auckland and have appeared in the Hamilton District Court today, also charged with murder.

The court has ordered name suppression for the four men charged, as well as all suppression of all facts and circumstances relating to this case.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre. 

Source: New Zealand Police

Police are now in a position to release the name of the woman who died following a crash in Waitahuna on 24 July.

She was 41-year-old Erin Lee Van De Water, of Dunedin.

Our thoughts are with her family and friends at this time.

Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government has taken urgent action to prevent what could have amounted to a ‘stop work’ notice for thousands of New Zealand farmers, RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay, and Associate Environment Minster Andrew Hoggard say.

“Last month, Waikato Regional Council informed the Government that unless urgent changes were made to water discharge rules in the RMA, approximately 2,800 Waikato farms would require resource consents for on-farm activities,” Mr Bishop says. 

“To be clear, these consents would be for routine on-farm activities that farmers have already been doing, often for years, without requiring a consent.

“The Waikato region generates 20% of the nation’s primary exports, with dairy farming supporting the employment of over 9,000 Kiwis in the Waikato alone. If we don’t act, the economic heart of New Zealand’s primary sector could grind to a halt under what would effectively be a ‘stop work’ order.

“Waikato Regional Council wasn’t the only council to raise concerns. Horizons Regional Council, Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Tasman District Council and Environment Southland all requested further changes to water discharge rules as well.

“Therefore, we have made the decision to further amend the Resource Management (Consenting and Other System Changes) Amendment Bill to broaden what water discharges can be allowed as a permitted activity. 

“If Councils choose to use these permitted activity rules, we will still require them to show a pathway of continuous improvement in the quality of our water bodies.” 

“Farmers are often the first to highlight the importance of cleaning up our waterways, and we need to allow them to take a common-sense approach improving water quality,” Mr McClay says.

“This is excellent news for not only farmers across the Waikato, but across New Zealand. The rules around water discharges are out-of-date and create legal uncertainty. 

“Farmers need to be able to farm without worrying about costly, lengthy, and uncertain consenting processes hanging over their heads. New Zealand’s economic recovery relies on it.”

“Farmers and producers are leading New Zealand’s economic recovery after some very tough years. The Government is not willing to let their progress be tripped up by pointless red tape,” Mr Hoggard says. 

The Resource Management (Consenting and Other System Changes) Amendment Bill is due before Parliament’s Committee of the Whole House later today and is expected to pass into law during this sitting block.