Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: New Zealand Police

An early morning arrest landed a 30-year-old man in custody with a number of new offences on his charge sheet. 

Waitematā Police located the offender hiding under a vehicle in Don McKinnon Drive at around 1.45am on Friday 19 September.

Acting Inspector Tim Williams says the man of no fixed abode was breaching his conditions of bail and arrested.

“He’s also wanted for further offending including shoplifting, stealing number plates and stealing a vehicle,” Acting Inspector Williams says.  “Additional charges laid after the early morning arrest amounted to 11 shoplifting charges, three theft charges and one charge of unlawfully taking a motor vehicle.”

The man appeared in North Shore District Court and was remanded in custody until 7 November.

“What a result for the late night team on patrol,” Acting Inspector Williams says.  “We want communities to know we’re always on the lookout for criminals, even it means working hard when most people are fast asleep.”

ENDS

Nicole Bremner/NZ Police

Source: New Zealand Police

A five-month operation has culminated in 11 arrests and the recovery of an illicit stash of firearms and drugs, along with nearly NZ$1 million in cash in Auckland this week.

Operation Mexted, a joint investigation run by the National Organised Crime Group (NOCG) and New Zealand Customs, has been targeting a transnational organised criminal cell  involved in the smuggling of controlled drugs into New Zealand.

It’s the 29th such cell shut down in New Zealand since 2016.

The first phase of Operation Mexted commenced in late June, when Police executed a search warrant at an Air BnB in Māngere Bridge, in Auckland.

“During the search, four glocks and a submachine gun were located inside a suitcase in an upstairs bedroom,” Acting Detective Inspector Jason Hunt, National Organised Crime Group, says.

“Later that day, three American nationals were arrested at an Onehunga address for the possession of these firearms and were subsequently charged with importing methamphetamine and participating in an organised criminal group.”

On 14 August, a second phase of arrests terminated with search warrants executed at four properties in Pakuranga, Ōtara, Blockhouse Bay and Papatoetoe.

“As a result, four people were charged in relation to a number of methamphetamine importations, as well as possession for supply of 750 grams of methamphetamine.”

Acting Detective Inspector Hunt says a further man was arrested for money laundering after more than NZ$800,000 was located in a Takapuna apartment.

He says the find was part of the operation’s third termination on 8 September, in which officers also discovered 41 grams of methamphetamine and NZ$77,000 at an address in Mt Wellington, which led to the arrest of another man.

Yesterday morning (18 September) Police and Customs investigators descended on 10 properties across the Auckland and Waikato regions, where a further seven people were taken into custody.

“We are continuing to focus our efforts on these syndicates establishing themselves for financial greed while preying on vulnerable communities.

“Police will continue to act, alongside Customs and our other law enforcement partners, to shut down this organised criminal offending taking place across different parts of the country.”

Acting Customs Investigations Manager, Simon Peterson, says Customs used its investigative and specialist expertise from the outset to identify the syndicate’s attempts to exploit our border and gathered and shared this intelligence with Police partners.

“Customs identified the suspects smuggling cannabis plants and resin into the country, tracking their smuggling activities throughout and gathering evidence.

“The offenders now face charges for the importation of 18 kilograms of methamphetamine, as well importation charges for cannabis.

“This joint investigation with our Police partners has disrupted this criminal group and kept 900,000 doses of methamphetamine off our streets,” Mr Peterson says.

Ten men, aged between 23 and 39, and one women, aged 33, are facing combined charges for multiple drugs and border related offences.

Those charges include unlawful possession of firearms, importation of methamphetamine, possession for supply methamphetamine, importation of cannabis resin (class b), importation of cannabis plant (class c).

Police have also laid charges of participates in an organised criminal group (material benefits) and participates in an organised criminal group (violence).

Those charged have appeared in the Manukau District Court. 

By the numbers:
– 11 people arrested
– 5 firearms located
– NZ$915,335 cash seized
– 791 grams of methamphetamine located
– 18 grams of cocaine
– 54 grams of cannabis

Importation charges relate to:
– 18 kilograms of methamphetamine
– 408 grams of cannabis (resin)
– 1673 grams of cannabis (plants)

ENDS.

Holly McKay/NZ Police

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

The State Highway summer maintenance season is coming to Motueka in a big way.

A two-stage resurfacing programme is planned for the road, between Old Wharf Road and Fearon Street, starting at the end of this month and continuing until late November.

Stage 1 works

Rob Service, System Manager Nelson/Tasman, says Stage 1 will see work underway between Tudor Street and Greenwood Street from Sunday, 28 September.

“Contractors will be resurfacing this section of State Highway 60 High Street with asphalt. This will create a much smoother, safer, and quieter road surface – and one that will require fewer repairs and maintenance in the future.”

Mr Service says the Stage 1 works will take around three weeks’ worth of nightworks to complete and will be ongoing to 17 October.”

“This is a big job, and it cannot be done without affecting traffic. We will need to have a southbound road closure and a local road detour in place while it is underway.”

“The good news is we can keep it open for northbound traffic heading to Riwaka. However, drivers can expect delays while the resurfacing is being completed. They will need to allow for around five minutes extra travel time to use the local road detour,” Mr Service says.

He says there will be three nights on 5, 6 and 7 October, when a full closure will be needed.

“This is because we have to resurface the Greenwood Street / Pah Street / High Street intersection. Unfortunately, crews will have to work across the full width of the road on these three nights, meaning it will be closed to north and southbound traffic.”

“We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause. But the good news is the work will result in a much better road surface for one of Motueka’s busiest intersections,” Mr Service says.

Stage 2 works

Mr Service says stage 2 of the project will see the State Highway 60 High Street resurfaced between Old Wharf Road and Whakarewa Street at the southern end of Motueka, and also between Greenwood Street and Fearon Street at the northern end of the town.

“Contractors will start this work in mid-November, and we expect both sections will be resurfaced within two weeks, weather permitting.”

“We will be sharing more details about these works and how they will affect traffic and the community before they begin,” Mr Service says.”

Works schedule and detour routes

• Stage 1:
  • Sunday 28 September to Friday 17 October. Sunday to Thursday nights, 7pm – 7am.
    • SH60/High Street CLOSED to southbound traffic between Tudor Street and Greenwood Street. The road will remain OPEN for northbound traffic
    • Local road detour via Staples Street, Thorp Street and Old Wharf Road 
  • Sunday 5 October, Monday 6 October, and Tuesday 7 October. 7pm – 7am
    • SH60/High Street Motueka CLOSED in both directions between Tudor Street and Greenwood Street / Pah Street
    • Local road detour via Staples Street, Thorp Street and Old Wharf Road
    • Allow an extra five minutes travelling time when using the detour route. 

• Stage 2:
  • Monday 17 November to Friday 28 November (no work on Saturday or Sunday), 9.30am – 5pm.
    • SH60/High Street CLOSED to southbound traffic between Tudor Street and Greenwood Street. The road will remain OPEN for northbound traffic
    • Local road detour via Staples Street, Thorp Street and Old Wharf Road.

Source: Maritime Union of New Zealand

The Maritime Union of New Zealand (MUNZ) has given its full support to Ra Whakamana, a national day of solidarity on 28 October 2025.

MUNZ is calling on maritime workers and their whanau to join mass mobilisations at 12pm to reaffirm the tino rangatiratanga of Tangata Whenua and protect the rights and wellbeing of all workers.

The national day of action is being co-led by the National Iwi Chairs Forum and the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi.

Maritime Union National Secretary Carl Findlay says the fight for workers’ rights and the fight for Tiriti justice are intertwined.

“On the waterfront, in our ports, and on our ships, we see every day how the struggle for dignity, safety, and fair pay is the same struggle for all workers,” says Mr Findlay.

“This Government’s agenda is a direct attack on all working people. They are eroding hard-won rights and protections while costs keep rising, blocking pay equity for wahine, and attacking Te Tiriti o Waitangi. We will not stand by and let this happen.”

R? Whakamana is a tikanga-led stand for cultural wellbeing, dignity, workers’ rights, mana wahine, rangatahi, and tino rangatiratanga, guided by iwi leadership in partnership with the union movement.

The date of 28 October carries deep historical significance, marking both the 1835 signing of He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tireni and the first Labour Day demonstrations in 1890 that helped secure the eight-hour working day.

Mr Findlay says this is a historic collaboration between iwi and unions.

“This is a call to all Tangata Whenua and Tangata Tiriti to stand together. For generations, maritime workers have fought for a fair go. Now, we are proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with iwi to create a future where tino rangatiratanga is real for everyone and Te Tiriti o Waitangi unites all our communities.”

“We urge our members to join their local events on 28 October and send a powerful message: we will not back down.”

Events will be held across the country. To stay updated on details, visit: https://www.together.org.nz/ra_whakamana

Source: Maritime Union of New Zealand

We honour trailblazers like Kate Sheppard, Meri Te Tai Mangak?hia, Georgina Beyer, and many more, whose courage helped make Aotearoa a leader in social change and equality for women.

Tomorrow, at the Women’s Day of Action on 20 September, across Aotearoa we continue their fight. To show this government that Aotearoa will not stand for their attack on women and working people. At NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi, we stand united with working w?hine across Aotearoa.

We also celebrate this year’s Kate Sheppard Memorial Award recipient, an incredible PhD student Katherine Ellis, whose work inspires us all.

132 years on, the fight for gender and workplace equality continues. Together, we keep pushing for a fairer, more inclusive Aotearoa.

Source: New Zealand Police

Police acknowledge the sentencing of six Mongrel Mob members for a range of violent offending in Southland in 2022.

The sentences handed down in the High Court at Christchurch yesterday range from three years and four months, to six years, in prison.

“The sentencing of all six offenders sends a clear message to organised crime groups that behaviour like this will not be tolerated in our community,” says Area Commander Southland, Inspector Mike Bowman.

“Those who choose to offend in this way, causing this type of harm, can expect to be held accountable.”

In January 2022, Southland began experiencing a spree of violent crimes that spanned several months, including drive-by shootings and violent assaults that left people critically injured.

In response, Police began Operation Pakari, a complex, detailed investigation by Southland Police into this violent offending. The operation concluded in June 2023 with a number of people being arrested.

Inspector Bowman says he hopes this week’s sentencing provides some comfort to the public.

“I want to thank our investigation team, who worked incredibly hard to put a halt to this offending, and our officers and partner agencies who continue to work with our communities through our Resilience to Organised Crime in Communities programme.

“Part of our job is continuing to ensure that whanau and household members directly impacted by the offending and sentencing are well-supported,” he says.

“The operation is a great piece of work that’s happened in the Southland policing area, which has seen a 17% reduction in overall offences since June 2023.

“Our work continues, and we thank our communities for their ongoing support.”

ENDS

Issued by the Police Media Centre.

Source: New Zealand Police

District:

Source: New Zealand Police

A three-vehicle crash is causing delays on city-bound traffic on the Southern Motorway (SH1) near Greenlane.

Two vehicles and a truck have collided in the incident.

The crash has occurred near the northbound Greenlane off-ramp and is causing delays in the area.

Emergency services are at the scene.

Police advise motorists to expect delays on their journey this afternoon, as the scene will also need to be cleared.

ENDS

Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

Source: New Zealand Police

Te Awamutu Police have arrested a man without incident who was wanted after being deemed a risk to public safety.

The 20-year-old man will appear in the Hamilton District Court on 24 September on charges of burglary, intentional damage, reckless driving and unlawful take of a motor vehicle, among others.

Police were notified of a vehicle that was stolen on 16 September, which was later involved in dangerous driving on the road.

Acting Area Commander Mary van Dongen says people that have been causing mayhem in the community can expect Police to use our resources to locate them.

“After a series of dangerous acts that led to Police issuing a warrant to arrest, we have successfully caught up with the individual and can hold him to account.”

“We consider the safety of the community in our response,” says Acting Area Commander van Dongen.

Police thank the Te Awamutu and King Country residents for their assistance in keeping their communities safe.

If you see any unlawful or suspicious activity, please contact Police immediately on 111. To report after the fact or in non-emergencies please contact us online at 105.police.govt.nz or call 105.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Police

West Coast Police have charged a woman with lighting the fire that destroyed the old Seaview Hospital complex at Hokitika in August.

The 42-year-old Hokitika woman was arrested on Wednesday 17 September, when Police executed a search warrant at a local address.

The complex and former Kotuku Hostel, was consumed in a massive fire on 10 August, causing distress and concern among the community. It took firefighters the best part of two days to put out the blaze and for a scene examination to take place.

Detective Sergeant Graham Parsons said first responders initially feared a person may have been inside at the time the fire was lit.

“We had real fears for the welfare of that person, and resources had to be diverted until, thankfully, we were able to establish nobody was inside.

“Police would like to acknowledge those people who have provided information and assistance. We know this fire caused considerable unrest for the community, and hope the arrest brings some form of comfort to Hokitika residents.”

The accused faces a charge of arson and has been bailed to reappear at the Greymouth District Court on Wednesday 24 September.

As the case is before the court, Police are unable to comment further.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre