Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

Snow is expected to keep falling in the South Island as we move into spring over the next few days and road users are urged to be cautious on affected state highways.

Following a closure this morning of State Highway 7/Lewis Pass because of snow, further snowfalls are expected to affect SH7 at least through until Monday, according to forecasts supplied to New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA).

The forecasts show there is a risk of heavy snow in the Lewis Pass area on Monday before 10am, with 5 to 10cm above 750m. Lesser amounts of snow are expected over the weekend.

On State Highway 73, snow showers are expected through to Monday in and around Arthur’s Pass and east of Craigieburn Cutting.

Gusty winds and rain are also forecast for these areas over the next few days.

In the Mackenzie Basin, there is a risk of about 2cm of snow falling in places on State Highways 8 and 80 on both Sunday and Tuesday.  

NZTA system manager for the central South Island, Mark Pinner, says roading crews will be ready to respond to snow accumulating on the highways.

“Our focus will be keeping those highways open and safe for people to travel on. If the risk is too high, we may close the roads or put in place temporary speed reductions. Road users can play their part by planning ahead and driving to the conditions.”  

“The usual messages apply for driving in winter conditions – be visible, reduce your speed, adjust your travelling distance behind other motorists and avoid sudden braking or turning movements.”  

On State Highway 94 Milford Road, MetService is predicting 10 to 20cm of snow may settle near the summit through to Saturday night, with lesser amounts down to 700 metres.

The road will close from 5pm today between Hollyford Junction and Donne River bridge and is expected to reopen tomorrow when the road is clear.

Snow showers are also expected this afternoon for the Queenstown area.

People can plan ahead by visiting our Journey Planner site(external link), and helpful tips about winter driving.

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

People travelling on State Highway 2 through Upper Hutt can expect to see activity at one of its more notorious intersections with safety improvement nightworks beginning in September.

Safety upgrades for the SH2/Moonshine Road intersection were confirmed by the Minister of Transport in July.

SH2 Riverstone Terraces safety upgrades(external link)

The upgrades will see new traffic lights installed at the intersection to reduce crash risk, and extra safety measures put in place to protect cyclists. The new measures are a response to community concerns about the intersection’s safety.

Roxanne Hilliard, Wellington Alliance Manager, says construction work is about to begin at the intersection.

“We have brought the schedule forward slightly from the earlier planned start date of October. This is because we want to make sure the intersection is complete and operating before the end of year holiday season.”

“Initially, contractors will do ground and pavement investigations and minor concrete works. Construction will begin around 21 September. Road users can expect to see heavy machinery near this intersection day and night, but the road will be fully open during the day and weekends,” Ms Hilliard says.

Safety benefits

The new design and introduction of traffic lights will help vehicles move through the intersection more safely and will help avoid confusion and crashes. A traffic light-controlled intersection will significantly reduce the risk of crashes from vehicles turning across this busy section of State Highway 2.

Ms Hilliard says while people may think traffic lights will slow people down, safer intersections help prevent the significant disruption crashes cause.

“Serious crashes can and do close roads and, when they require a full police investigation, these closures can last for hours, and even minor crashes can have major impacts on traffic flows.”

“Add into that the devastating impact serious crashes have on victims and their families, making intersections like this safer is the right thing to do,” Ms Hilliard says.

View larger intersection upgrade map [PDF, 2.2 MB]

Other works

The Moonshine Hill Road project coincides with planned resurfacing work on State Highway 2 between Moonshine Hill Road and Totara Park Road. It is scheduled to run from mid-September to late October. The two programmes will require weeknight road closures and local road detours.

Ms Hilliard says it means drivers and Riverstone Terrace residents can expect some disruption and delays when accessing State Highway 2 while both projects are completed.

View larger detour map [PDF, 79 KB]

Riverstone Terraces access

While Riverstone Terraces will be within the road closure area, residents will retain access to their properties.

This will only be available via the northbound lanes on State Highway 2 – residents will need to enter this section of the highway from Silverstream and travel north towards Moonshine Hill Road.

Drivers will also have to stop at a waiting area for a short period before being allowed through. This is to ensure contractors are aware of traffic movements and can allow drivers to safely move through the works area.

Speed review consultation

The intersection changes are just part of the planned safety improvements for this section of State Highway 2. Consultation continues on a proposal to reduce the speed limit from 100 km/h to 80 km/h. This is due to close on Friday, 12 September.

Further announcements will be made after submissions have been considered and analysed, and a decision made by the Director of Land Transport.

The outcome of the consultation will inform what speed signs are installed at the State Highway 2/Moonshine Hill Road intersection once it is finished.

View larger speed limit review map [PDF, 444 KB]

More information

SH2 Hutt Valley intersection safety improvements – Moonshine Hill Road

Moonshine Hill Road to north of Whakatiki Street – Speed Review

Source: Privacy Commissioner

29 Aug 2025, 09:00

Read about the Biometrics Code, the Device Location Information (DLI) service, and a new Compliance Comment we’ve published. Our privacy tool, Poupou Matatapu, has also been shortlisted for one of the Global Privacy and Data Protection Awards. Read the August 2025 issue.

Source: New Zealand Police

Police are continuing to appeal to the public for sightings of missing 39-year-old Aydan, who has not been seen for nearly two weeks.

Aydan was last seen in Chartwell in the early hours Sunday 17 August in Snell Drive, believed to be driving his 2016 Grey Mazda ute, registration QYA209.

Police and Aydan’s family have serious concerns for his wellbeing.

We’re asking any residents of Snell Drive, or the surrounding areas to please check any CCTV or dashcam footage for sightings of this vehicle between 9pm on Saturday 16 August and 4am Sunday 17 August.

We also ask that anybody who sees a vehicle matching the above description, to please get in contact with Police.

If you have any information, please contact Police via 105, either over the phone or online, referencing file number 250819/5160.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Police

Attributable to Inspector Andrea McBeth, Hamilton City Area Commander:

One man has been arrested for stealing a phone off a passerby, cash from one restaurant and attempting to steal cash from another restaurant in central Hamilton yesterday evening.

At about 9.30pm last night Police were made aware of a man who had stolen a mobile phone from a member of the public walking near Alma Street.

The same man had been seen earlier in the evening, stealing cash from the till at a Victoria Street restaurant and attempting to steal cash from an Alma Street restaurant before staff members intervened.

The man ran towards the river path with the stolen phone and Police moved swiftly to locate him outside a nearby Mexican restaurant.

While police were placing him under arrest he smashed a glass storefront window of a business premises. The offender then threw shards of glass at a dog handler and Police dog, causing the handler to receive cuts to his hand, and the dog to suffer cuts to his paws.

The offender also received large gashes to his own arm while in the process of breaking the window, and a dog bite after the Police dog was deployed to aid in his arrest.

During this apprehension, another man has intervened, who was then arrested and charged with obstruction.

This was a cowardly assault on our staff and dog, and the violent behaviour exhibited last night is not acceptable.

This arrest serves as a clear message to anyone who steals from retailers or the public and assaults Police executing their duty. We do not condone this offending and if people choose to engage in this behaviour they can expect to be held to account.

We continue to ask our retailers to report any offending – reporting offences is the first step to help Police locate these individuals and put them before the court.

The dog handler and dog are receiving support and both are expected to make a full recovery.

The offender was taken to hospital by ambulance for medical attention.

A 35-year-old man has been charged with aggravated assault, assaulting Police, burglary and receiving property.

A 50-year-old local man has been charged with assaulting and obstructing Police and injuring a Police dog.

Both appeared in the Hamilton District Court today and the 35-year-old has been remanded in custody to appear at a later date.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre.

Source: New Zealand Police

A world-first tool to assist emergency services in locating people in need is proving it’s weight in gold after being put to the test this week.

The Device Location Information (DLI) technology was launched last week, making it faster for Police to narrow the search area for people who are unable or unwilling to say where they are, in circumstances where it is neccessary to prevent or lessen a serious threat to the life or health of the individual concerned or another individual.

Northern Emergency Communications and Dispatch Centre Manager, Inspector Dan Weir, says the technology can be used by emergency services to find the network location of a mobile phone of the person in need.

“Last night, Police received a report of a person with an intellectual disability missing from their home in Matamata.

“The person hadn’t been seen for 30 minutes and had left their Wandatrak at home; it was raining and the persons family were becoming increasingly worried.”

Inspector Weir says the decision was made to allow the DLI service to be used, sending officers to the person’s location at a nearby park.

“The person was returned home 37 minutes after being reported missing, which is an incredible result.

“When every second counts, this service is yet another tool to help our teams get people the help they need to keep them safe.

“One of the most stressful parts of our job is trying to find out where people are when they’re distressed and in need of help but can’t tell us or don’t know where they are, or equally if someone is reporting a loved one missing and doesn’t know where they could be.”

The DLI service delivers an improvement on the previous capability, which meant manual requests had to be made to mobile network operators to try and locate a device.

“Earlier in the week the service was used to assist in locating a person who’s family had immediate concerns for their welfare.

“The person was found after being involved in a single vehicle crash in Piha, thankfully uninured, and was able to get the help they needed.

“Time can often be the difference between life and death and we’re thrilled to have access to this service.”

ENDS.

Holly McKay/NZ Police

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government has granted Tasman District Council up to $2 million to support the region’s recovery from the severe flooding this winter, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds says. 

The grant – drawn from the recently established emergency waste funding – will help cover the costs of flood-related waste cleanup, waste and resource recovery infrastructure repairs, and the removal of silt from affected properties. 

“The Tasman district was hit multiple times by severe flooding this winter, leaving in its wake vast volumes of waste from households, orchards and farms, the scale of which was beyond the region’s capacity to manage alone,” Ms Simmonds says. 

“I understand growers in Riwaka and other settlements along the Motueka River have been among the hardest hit, with many facing devastating crop losses and serious damage to essential infrastructure like sheds, cool stores, packhouses and worker accommodation. 

“Silt has also been a major challenge for the region, with thick deposits left across orchards, paddocks and residential areas, making clean-up efforts more complex and costly.

“The impact on livelihoods and the wider community is significant, and this funding will help ease the clean-up costs and support the council and community as they continue to recover.” 

Ms Simmonds says the emergency waste funding was set up to help councils with the cost of managing waste following an emergency, giving them timely access to a cash injection when communities most need it.

“The Government is committed to supporting councils and communities in dealing with the aftermath of severe weather.

“Tasman has a long recovery ahead, and this funding will help ease some of the pressure and support the community as it gets back on its feet.”

To further support the council, the Ministry for the Environment is helping it apply for a waiver of the waste disposal levy to further reduce the financial burden of disposing of silt and other flood-related waste. 

“We know how hard people have been working to clean up and rebuild, and we’re grateful for the resilience and care they’ve shown for one another.”

For further information visit: Emergency waste funding | Ministry for the Environment 

Source: New Zealand Police

Auckland City Police are appealing for sightings of a missing woman and hold significant concerns for her wellbeing.

Te Anihana Beau Pomana, 25, was last seen leaving Sky City on 21 August around 5.06am, leaving all her belongings at the hotel.

Today, Police are releasing footage of Te Anihana’s last known movements.

“It’s hoped this footage will jog the memory of anyone who may have seen or come into contact with her,” Detective Senior Sergeant Martin Friend, of Auckland City CIB says.

“Te Anihana checked into the hotel on 18 August and has no known associates in central Auckland.

“She may be acting erratically and it is not known whether she has access to a cell phone.”Te Anihana is of thin build, around 154cm tall, with curly black hair and tattoos.

Extensive enquiries to locate her have been unsuccessful.

Detective Senior Sergeant Friend says Police and whānau are concerned for her welfare and urge anyone who sees Te Anihana to call 111 immediately.

Any other information on her whereabouts should be reported via 105 using reference number 250822/6281.

ENDS

Nicole Bremner/NZ Police 

NOTE FOR MEDIA: Video footage is available on the Auckland City Police Facebook page, or by emailing media@police.govt.nz

Source: New Zealand Police

Like a scene straight out of a movie, an international scam artist has been caught – this time by New Zealand Police.

A 32-year-old man was sentenced at Christchurch District Court yesterday to one year and three months’ imprisonment.

On Tuesday 17 June, Christchurch Police were notified that a hotel guest had left without paying for his two-week stay.

A staff member of the hotel uncovered more deception when alerting other hotels in the city – they had similar offending dating back to 5 May.

The quick actions of Police staff resulted in locating the man, where he was arrested on a charge of obtaining by deception (over $1,000).

Detective Sergeant Michael Freeman says by the next day Police identified three other hotels where the man had offended, alongside multiple unsuccessful attempts.

“Across the four hotels we know of, he has $15,290.61 of unpaid debts.”

Three further charges were laid for obtaining by deception, as well as one charge of failing to carry out obligations in relation to a computer search.

Detective Sergeant Freeman says it soon became clear that the man’s offending may not be limited to Christchurch.

Hotels in Greece, Thailand, United Kingdom, Northern Ireland, and Cambodia all reported similar offending.

“The man is alleged to have used different names, scamming many victims out of thousands of dollars by posing as a United Nations official procuring aid for charities linked to the war in Ukraine.”

The man is also alleged to have convinced a woman she was being stalked when in fact he was responsible for the acts of intimidation. Another victim, residing in Cambodia, claims he is owed thousands of dollars as an employee who was never paid.

Following the man’s arrest in New Zealand, Police found the man had previously been convicted in the United Kingdom for theft, fraud, and ‘befriending vulnerable people’, the latter in relation to impersonating a paramedic, complete with his own fake ambulance response vehicle.

Detective Sergeant Freeman says he appears to be a scam artist who has been victimising people all over the world, for years.

“A few people have likened him to Frank Abagnale, the real-life inspiration for the film Catch Me If You Can.

“The only key difference is that unlike being arrested by the French Police like Abagnale, the man was arrested by us.

“This movie-like scenario doesn’t happen to Police often, so it is nice to see an offender be held to account for this type of offending.

“Immigration New Zealand and Interpol are now involved, and it is likely more information will surface. “

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Police

Two premises have been caught selling alcohol to underage volunteers in Blenheim.

Blenheim Police in conjunction with Marlborough District Council licencing team conducted a controlled purchase operation on Friday (22 August).

Of the ten premises that were checked through the evening, two failed checks after serving alcohol to volunteers.

“It’s disappointing to have two premises letting down the community,” says Sergeant Graham Single.

“Two fails is too many – It’s not rocket science – no ID, no service.

“Alcohol harm has real effects on our community, so making sure all premises are complying with their liquor licencing conditions is imperative.”

Friday’s controlled purchase operation involved volunteers between the age of 15 and 17 year of age attempting to buy alcohol, at the direction of Police.

When alcohol is sold to a volunteer; the licensee, duty manager and staff member selling may all be liable to prosecution.

“Alcohol continues to one of the most destructive drugs in our community, and we all need to do our part to limit the harm.”

Licencing matters will be dealt with through the Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Authority.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre.