Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) is reminding people that public consultation for the proposed second toll point on the Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road (TELTR) will close at 5pm this Thursday, 28 August.

Susan Collins, Regional Manager of System Design for NZTA is encouraging anyone intending to make a submission to do so before the deadline. 

“We’re committed to hearing from the community and value your input as part of this important process.”

As a reminder, motorists travelling the full length of the TELTR will only be charged one toll per journey. 

This means drivers will either pay at the existing toll gantry or at the new toll point when entering or exiting via the Pāpāmoa East Interchange – not both. 

Feedback plays a vital role in shaping the future of transport infrastructure in the region. Don’t miss the opportunity to have your say:

Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road

View larger map [PDF, 311 KB]

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government is modernising visa settings to attract experienced businesspeople to help grow New Zealand’s future.
“The Business Investor Visa (BIV) will provide a pathway to residence for business migrants who are ready to invest in, operate and grow established businesses here,” Immigration Minister Erica Stanford says.
“This new visa will bring overseas investment to maintain and create jobs, grow incomes, and breathe new life into existing businesses across the country.”
The new Business Investor Visa, which opens for applications in November 2025, offers two investment options:
• A $1 million investment in an existing business, with a three-year work-to-residence pathway.
• A $2 million investment in an existing business, with a 12-month fast-track to residence pathway.
“We are introducing a more targeted pathway for experienced businesspeople with capital to invest and the hands-on experience and skills needed to run a successful business. It has clearer settings that are easier for applicants to understand and for Immigration New Zealand to process, and it’s designed to deliver real economic benefits.
“The Business Investor Visa forms part of our broader refresh of business visa settings, alongside our improved Active Investor Plus visa.
The introduction of the Business Investor Visa sees the retirement of the Entrepreneur Category. It had low application volumes, high decline rates, and didn’t deliver strong economic impacts.
“Work is also underway on a visa pathway for startup-entrepreneurs with scalable, innovative business ideas, designed to complement existing settings and complete the suite.
“Our Government is focused on smart, flexible and nuanced immigration solutions to help stimulate the New Zealand economy. These changes will help bring brighter days ahead for all Kiwis,” Ms Stanford says.

Source: New Zealand Police

Police have seized firearms, cash, and drugs – as well as pipe bomb substances and casings – in an operation in Wellington District this week.

Operation Trunk has successfully disrupted a significant supply of methamphetamine believed to be intended for the Hutt Valley community.

The three-month investigation, led by the National Organised Crime Group with support from Wellington District staff and other specialist groups, commenced termination on 13 August, following a series of warrants and arrests over the past few weeks.

Detective Inspector Darrin Thomson says that the operation targeted the importation and supply of methamphetamine across the Hutt Valley area.

“Thorough information gathering, followed by quality analysis, allowed Police to undertake a series of search warrants at a commercial and residential property, and has successfully led to the arrest of two people,” he says.

A 44-year-old woman and a 31-year-old man have been charged with a variety of offences including possession of methamphetamine for supply and possession of ammunition.

The man has also been charged with importing methamphetamine and possession of a firearm.

Both are remanded in custody. The man is set to reappear in Hutt Valley District Court on 4 September and the woman on 20 November.

Police are continuing to examine a number of items located during the searches, which could result in further charges.

Items seized include:
–             Four firearms
–             3D printed firearm parts
–             A credit card skimmer
–             Approximately $300,000 cash
–             A money counter
–             Two kilograms of methamphetamine

The Police Asset Recovery Unit also seized two vehicles valued at more than $100,000.

Detective Inspector Thomson says the drug seizure equates to 100,000 doses and social harm of more than $2 million dollars.

“Of real concern is the discovery of three kilograms of substances and casings capable of being transformed into pipe bombs. This is highly concerning to Police, and we continue to investigate the source of the substances.

“I’d like to commend the Police staff involved in this investigation. NZ Police is committed to keeping its communities safe and holding to account those responsible for distributing class A drugs, and I think this outcome really reflects that.

“The mix of methamphetamine and firearms is a lethal cocktail, so I am pleased that Police continue to dismantle this cluster of offending,” he says.

If you have any information about those who may be involved in the importation or supply of harmful and illicit drugs, please contact us via 105 either online or over the phone.

Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

As the matter is before the Court, Police are not able to comment further at this time.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre. 

Source: New Zealand Police

Attributable to Inspector Ash Gurney, Acting Manawatu Area Commander:

A man has been arrested in Levin this evening, hours after an incident reportedly involving a firearm.

Police received reports of a firearm being discharged around 3:10pm today, in the vicinity of Mabel Street, Levin.

Officers were on scene within minutes. There was no obvious damage located, or injuries to any person.

Police follow-up enquiries in the area led to the arrest of a 34-year-old man following a traffic stop in Levin around 5:45pm, invoked under the Gang Conflict Warrant.

A sawn-off .22 rifle, and ammunition, was also located. Enquiries are ongoing as to whether the man is linked to the report of a firearm discharge.

He is remanded in custody and will be appearing in Levin District Court tomorrow, on a charge of unlawfully possessing a firearm.

Reassurance patrols remain in Levin as part of Operation Bath, while a Gang Conflict Warrant is still in place.

ENDS

Issued by the Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Police

Attribute to Tairāwhiti Area Commander, Inspector Danny Kirk:

Gisborne Police have launched a homicide investigation following the death of a man in Mangapapa early this morning.

Police were called to an address on Winter Street at around 6:50am after receiving a report of disturbance coming from the home.

On arrival to the address, Police located a man who was unresponsive and immediately commenced first aid.

Unfortunately, despite emergency services best efforts, the man was sadly pronounced deceased at the scene.

Police are undertaking several enquiries to determine the circumstances of the death.

A cordon will remain at the scene overnight for a scene examination in the morning.

The deceased will also undergo a postmortem examination tomorrow.

Police and Victim Support Services are providing support to the victims whānau during this difficult time.

Police are speaking with several people in connection to this incident and are satisfied that there is no ongoing risk to the public.

ENDS.

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Police

Waitematā Police have wasted little time getting to the bottom of a ‘missing mail mystery’ in West Auckland.

An investigation into a spate of parcel thefts has resulted in two arrests and seizure of a range of items this morning at a house in Glen Eden, Auckland.

Detective Senior Sergeant Ryan Bunting, Area Investigations Manager, Waitematā West, says the first reports of the offending occurred around 12 August, though it’s likely to have started before this.

“An investigation was launched following reports of parcels going missing or not turning up in Henderson, Te Atatū South and Te Atatū Peninsula,” Detective Senior Sergeant Bunting says.

Enquiries included a review of local CCTV footage which helped locate items and clothing allegedly linked to the missing parcels. 

“Discussion about the thefts on a local Facebook page has also heightened awareness in the community.” Detective Senior Sergeant Bunting says.

“Enquiries are ongoing to determine whether other offenders are involved.”

A male has been charged with five charges of theft and a woman is facing two charges of theft.

Police are also in the process of reuniting several recovered packages with their owners.

Anyone who is missing a parcel or has information that could assist with enquiries is asked to contact Police online at 105.police.govt.nz or call 105.

Please use the reference number 250821/1358.

You can also provide information anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 0800 555 111

ENDS

Nicole Bremner/NZ Police 

Source: New Zealand Police

State Highway 2, between Great North Road and Argyll Road, in Waipawa is blocked following vegetables spilling from a truck.

Police were called the blockage at around 4:30pm today.

No injuries have been reported, however the road will remain closed while clean up is underway.

Motorists are advised to avoid the area and to expect delays.

ENDS

Source: NZ Ministry for Primary Industries

Serious charges are likely under the Fisheries Act after 3 people were stopped last night in a car containing 422 pāua taken from Kaikoura’s south coast.

Fishery officers had previously stopped the car yesterday (26 August 2025) afternoon and were attempting to inspect their catch when the driver of the car drove off, says Fisheries New Zealand district manager Marlborough/Canterbury, Stuart Moore.

“We’re grateful for the support of the New Zealand Police which stopped the car in Rangiora. 

“Of the 422 pāua recovered from the car, 230 were undersized. People who disregard the rules like this steal from us all. 

“The daily limit is 3 pāua per person with a minimum legal size of 130mm. The limit is there for a reason – to protect our shared fisheries and keep them sustainable. 

“We take this kind of offending very seriously. Our message to the small number of people who go out to break the rules for their own benefit is that there will be consequences,” says Stuart Moore.

“We encourage all fishers or people planning to go fishing to know the rules. The best thing to do is to download our free NZ Fishing Rules mobile app which will provide you the latest rules, restrictions, and closures at your fingertips.”

NZ Fishing Rules mobile app

Report suspected illegal activity to the ministry’s 0800 4 POACHER number (0800 476 224).

For further information and general enquiries, call MPI on 0800 008 333 or email info@mpi.govt.nz

For media enquiries, contact the media team on 029 894 0328 

Source: Worksafe New Zealand

26 August 2025

New guidance to simplify safety for forestry businesses and workers has been published by WorkSafe New Zealand.

Forestry had the highest fatality rate of any sector in 2024, with 16.58 deaths per 100,000 workers. The fatality rate is 20 times higher than the average for all industries.

The Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) for forestry and harvesting operations was spearheaded by WorkSafe, in collaboration with the forestry industry. The ACOP has now been launched by the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety, Brooke van Velden.

The guidance outlines the responsibilities and legal expectations for operators, and helps workers know what good looks like. An update to the good practice guide for small forestry operations has also been published, along with educational resources to aid understanding. New information is included on machine safety, planting and pruning (silviculture), managing work-related health, and manual tree felling.

“The guidance blends technical expertise with hands-on knowledge from the sector, and uses shared language between the two,” says WorkSafe’s chief executive Sharon Thompson.

WorkSafe’s role is to influence businesses and workers to meet their responsibilities and keep people healthy and safe.

“Reducing deaths and injuries in forestry requires everyone in the sector to properly plan for and practise safe harvesting.”

The updated ACOP is the first key deliverable from WorkSafe’s priority plan for forestry. The organisation will be undertaking targeted assessments to help embed the guidance in the coming months.

The Forest Industry Safety Council, the New Zealand Forest Owners Association, and the Forest Industry Contractors Association partnered with WorkSafe to develop the new guidance.

“Huge strides have been made to improve work health and safety in the forestry industry, but there’s plenty of work to be done. We want the same thing – for our people to be safe on the job, and to come home from work safely every day,” says Joe Akari, chief executive of the Forest Industry Safety Council and Safetree New Zealand.

Read the updated forestry guidance

Source: New Zealand Government

Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden today launched the Approved Code of Practice [ACOP] for Forestry and Harvesting Operations for the forestry industry.    

ACOPs are practical guidelines to help people in specific sectors and industries to comply with their health and safety duties. The sector-specific ACOPs programme is one part of the broader health and safety reforms.   

WorkSafe has worked with the forestry industry, including input from both workers and forestry companies to create guidelines aimed at reducing deaths and serious injuries in the sector.   

These guidelines can now be used across the Forestry sector to help reduce ambiguity about health and safety obligations. It was developed by the industry, for the industry, alongside WorkSafe, to address the specific risks the sector faces.   

Forestry is one of New Zealand’s highest-risk industries. Over the past decade, an average of four to five forestry workers have died at work each year.  A forestry worker is 20 times more likely to be killed and 7 times more likely to suffer serious injury than the average worker.   

For years there has been concern about the high rate of deaths in the forestry sector, and in September 2024, the Minister visited operations on the ground.   

“I met with people in the Forestry sector during my health and safety road show last year. While visiting a forestry operation, I saw the risks and dangers workers are faced with firsthand,” says Ms van Velden.    

“This new forestry code follows a suite of health and safety reforms announced earlier in the year which aim to focus the system on reducing critical risk and improve clarity for businesses, with a strong focus on supporting high-risk sectors.”   

“As part of the reforms, I announced a shift to greater reliance on ACOPs in order to provide sectors with specific, up-to-date guidelines, and changing the ACOP model to reassure people that if they comply with an ACOP, they have done enough to meet their health and safety duties.”   

Beyond forestry, the Government plans to develop ACOPs for multiple sectors including agriculture and construction. These codes will provide practical guidelines that reflects the real needs of each industry, moving away from one-size-fits-all approaches that have created confusion for employers.   

“We want to work with industry to create codes of practice that are realistic and effective,” says Minister van Velden. “The goal is to make health and safety laws clearer and simpler while actually improving workplace safety.”   

The initiative forms part of broader health and safety reforms based on extensive consultation with various industry sectors.   

Editor notes:  

Over the past 15 years 61 workers have been killed in the sector and 150 workers have suffered serious injury resulting in hospitalisation