Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: New Zealand Police

Counties Manukau Police continues to appeal to the wider Māngere community for their assistance in locating Ella Davenport.

Ella, 57, has been missing from her Hain Avenue home since Friday 20 June.

Police have information she is still in the local community, with the last unconfirmed sighting of her being around the BP on Massey Road in late June.

She may also frequent the 24-hour laundromat near the petrol station.

Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Robb Kerr says: “I would like to thank those in the community who have contacted us or spoken to Police about Ella in recent weeks.

“I’m asking for residents in Māngere and Māngere East to keep an eye out for her.

“If you see her, please contact Police straight away.

“We are concerned for Ella’s wellbeing; on top of this we have been experiencing quite cold and wet weather recently.”

If you have other information which might assist Police, you can update us online now or call 105.

Please use the reference number 250621/8662 for Ella’s case.

Police and Ella’s family thank the community for their assistance.

ENDS. 

Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

Source: New Zealand Police

One lane is now open while contractors continue to clear the road after the earlier diesel spill.

This will impact anyone planning on travelling between Napier and Taupō.

Motorists are advised to expect delays.

ENDS

Issued by the Police Media Centre.

Source: Privacy Commissioner

27 Jun 2025, 02:02

Background

The complainant, who was in New Zealand on a working holiday, was employed at a factory on a short-term basis. They consented to the company taking a photograph of them while they worked and said they thought that the photos were to be only used internally. However, two years later after they’d returned to their home country, the complainant learnt via friends in New Zealand that their photos were being used for marketing. The complainant’s photo had been used on the side of the factory, on billboards, and in shopping centres. The photo was also used in the agency’s annual report. 

The complainant was upset about this as they felt that they had not been fully informed about why their photo was being taken, and that they had not consented to the use of their image for the purpose the company had used it for.  They complained to our Office about the collection, use, and disclosure of their personal information.

The principles applying to this case

This complaint raised issues under principles 3, 10, and 11 of the Privacy Act. 

Principle 3 requires agencies to be open about the collection of personal information, telling people at the time of collection why it is being collected and how it will be used. 

Principles 10 and 11 state agencies can generally only use and disclose personal information for the purpose it was collected, and there are limits to using personal information for different purposes. 

Our approach

In this case, the agency felt it had proper consent from the complainant to use their image in the way it had, but the complainant disagreed.  Despite this difference in opinion, both parties (each were legally represented) wanted to be able to resolve the complaint. However, they hadn’t been able to before the complainant (the person in the photo) complained to our Office. 

We focus on resolving complaints wherever possible, and section 77 of the Privacy Act allows us to try to resolve a complaint without first investigating.  

We spoke with both parties who agreed to participate in our conciliation process to discuss their respective positions and try to resolve the complaint. 

Even though the parties didn’t agree on whether the complainant had consented to the use of their image in the way the company had used it, the company was genuinely upset and remorseful that the complainant did not feel they had consented. They accepted that they had caused the complainant a significant level of harm and distress.

The complainant provided psychological reports that explained they had a pre-existing mental health condition, for which they had received treatment and recovered. The evidence the complainant provided made it clear that finding out about the marketing campaign had caused a significant regression and required ongoing psychological care. 

The company apologised and agreed to review its procedures around consent for collection and use of employee photographs. It also agreed to stop using the complainant’s image and to take their picture down from their website and other platforms.  

Financial compensation was also paid, to reimburse the complainant for their legal costs, for their psychological care, and to compensate for the significant injury to feelings the complainant had suffered.

The matter was resolved, and we closed our file.

Source: New Zealand Police

Police are continuing to make enquiries to locate missing man Kahu, who was last seen on Friday 27 June.

A vehicle was located in the Whanganui River, matching the description of the vehicle belonging to Kahu.

Kahu is still yet to be located, and we’re asking the public for any sightings of him in the Whanganui area.

He was last seen wearing a black hoody, with red text on the sleeves, and camo cargo pants.

We’re asking anybody who is walking along or near the river or coastline near Whanganui to report any unusual findings or clothing matching the description of what Kahu was wearing.

If you have any information, please contact Police via 105 either over the phone or online, and reference file number 250702/3842.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: NZ Department of Conservation

Date:  07 July 2025

The approved quarry granted to Kokiri Lime Company Limited is a one-hectare site located south of Fox Glacier in the Te Wāhipounamu – South New Zealand World Heritage Area (WHA) on stewardship land and is a continuation of an historic quarry in the area. Kokiri Lime Company Limited originally applied for a 15 hectare site.

Acting Department of Conservation (DOC) Director General Stephanie Rowe, says the decision to grant was finely balanced given the quarry’s location on the edge of the World Heritage Area.

“The quarry is of strategic importance to the West Coast, with major infrastructure projects benefitting both economically and environmentally from locally sourced rock. It will supply rock for local flood protection and roading projects.

“I’m confident that the quarry will not compromise the outstanding natural heritage of this area or the integrity of the World Heritage Area as a whole. The quarry approved for operation is small, at a size of one ha, relative to the 2.6 million ha WHA. Factors in the decision are its location on the very edge of the WHA, its proximity to a previously modified site with regenerating vegetation, and the consideration of specific values at the site.”

“The approval requires the operator to take measures to mitigate the landscape effects of the quarry and protect local wildlife,” says Stephanie Rowe.

Background information 

Te Wāhipounamu World Heritage Area was established in 1990. It is made up of 2.6 million hectares (almost 10% of New Zealand’s total land area), and 70% of the WHA is located within Aoraki/Mount Cook, Fiordland, Mount Aspiring and Westland Tai Poutini National Parks, with the remainder made up of conservation land of other statuses.

Contact

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology

7 minutes ago

When Shelby Te Aho withdrew from her Bachelor of Business Studies at EIT due to family loss and financial hardship, she was not sure she would ever return.

The 23-year-old had already completed two and a half years of study before leaving in 2022 to support her whānau.

“I had some family members pass away in 2022, and my family was also struggling financially so I needed to leave and start working to help out,” says Shelby (Ngāti Porou). “It wasn’t an easy decision to leave, but at the time it was what I had to do.”

Although she initially thought she had failed, Shelby says the idea of finishing her degree returned over time.

“I really didn’t think I’d go back. I felt like I’d failed. But over time I kept thinking about it. I had already put in so much effort, and eventually I built up the courage to email my lecturer Russell and ask if there was any way I could finish.”

With support from EIT and its Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) process, Shelby was able to complete the final component of her qualification – an internship. This was based on her role and experience at Lineage Logistics in Whakatū, where she continues to work managing frozen export container logistics

Instead of a formal graduation, Shelby marked the moment with a private celebration on campus.

“It was perfect. I preferred it that way.”

The former Hastings Girls’ High School student is the first in her family to earn a degree.

“I’ve always dreamed of owning a bakery or clothing business. Studying business felt like the right step, and I’m proud I came back and finished it.”

She says it feels good to show her two younger siblings what is possible.

“It feels great. I always think about it. But as the oldest, I am glad to be able to show my siblings that you can do whatever you dream.”

Shelby says she loved her time at EIT and would recommend the programme to others.

“I loved my time at EIT. Russell was my favourite lecturer, but all the lecturers were great. They really want to see students win in life. I also enjoyed the marketing aspect of the degree, especially the practicals. They were really cool.”

Her message to others is simple.

“Do not be afraid to come back and keep pursuing what you want. You can still chase your dreams, even if there are challenges.”

Russell Booth, Programme Co-ordinator for the Bachelor of Business Studies at EIT, says he was “absolutely thrilled” when Shelby contacted him again to enquire about completing her internship and finally her BBS.

“Even though it had been a couple of years, she was an excellent candidate for the RPL process. Shelby impressed us with the work she had been doing at Lineage over the last two years, and the responsibility Lineage had given her. This is a fabulous achievement for a young woman who always works hard. We all believe in the School of Business here at EIT that Shelby will go far and realise her dreams for sure.”

Source: New Zealand Government

Associate Education Minister David Seymour is pleased to see the Healthy School Lunch Programme Term 3 menu has received positive feedback from three quarters of students, and complaints have fallen by 92 per cent, while at the same time taxpayers are saving over $130 million.
“The menu for Term 3 is being tested with students across the lower North Island. The result is 73 per cent positive feedback. Any parent knows getting children to like something is no easy task. I’d say if you’re winning 73 per cent of the time, that’s a great result”, Mr Seymour says.
Taste testing took place at schools across Taranaki, Palmerston North, Wairarapa, Wellington, Hawke’s Bay, and the Bay of Plenty. In total more than 120 students provided feedback during these sessions, forming the basis for the 73 per cent positive rating.
“Since the beginning of Term 1 2025, the Programme has delivered over 13.8 million nutritious meals, to 242,000 students, in 1011 schools,” says Mr Seymour.
“This marks the first time a single national supplier has provided meals at such scale, let alone meals which children enjoy, are nutritious, and are delivered on time. We are providing a high-quality service which is affordable for taxpayers.
“The Programme has taken on feedback and responded to issues as they arise. For example, in Term 1, students were unhappy with menu variation and meal quality. The variation and quality improved in Term 2, and students say they’ve been enjoying their lunches.
“The Programme must also be financially responsible. That’s why we are committed to reducing surplus meals. We are working towards this by ensuring students enjoy the meals and adjusting order volumes to better align with student attendance. 
“Previously there were issues with meals not arriving on time. The Programme got more trucks, streamlined delivery routes, and heard from principals and schools how they could address concerns. Now they deliver on-time, more than 98 per cent of the time, every day. 
“Many of the previous issues arose from the use of ‘stop gap’ frozen meals, exacerbated by Libelle’s liquidation. This has been fixed. Equipment was upgraded, and staff numbers increased, to increase meal production and control quality better. Production is now exceeding daily targets, and two million meals are expected to be ready for distribution by the start of Term 3.
“Since March, complaints to the Ministry have reduced by 92 per cent. The transparent feedback system has allowed the programme to be responsive and effective at improving processes.
“The programme has also already realised taxpayer savings of over $130 million. $8 million of those savings will go to ensuring 10,000 children in early learning services receive a taxpayer funded lunch every day. 
“When the Government manages its accounts like families and businesses have to, money goes a lot further.”

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

Work at a rockfall site on the West Coast has reached an important milestone with the completion of a micropile retaining wall to improve resilience and safety for users of State Highway 6.

Efforts to reduce the ongoing rockfall risk have been underway at the Epitaph Rift site, north of Haast and south of Knights Point, since a storm in November last year triggered a slip. The event required an initial highway closure and ongoing traffic management since then.

Work at the site has included use of explosives and blasting to reduce and remove unstable pieces of rock above the road.

See an example of the rock clearing work at the Epitaph site.(external link)

In March, work shifted to the construction of the micropile retaining wall below road level, with funding of $1.7 million for the work.

“This has involved the construction of 110 metres of micropiles, down to depths of up to nine metres, to ensure the stability of the outside shoulder of the highway,” says Moira Whinham, Maintenance Contract Manager for NZTA on the West Coast.

“This wall is an important step to improving the short-term resilience of the site while work on a business case looking at long term resilience options is completed.”

Completion of the retaining wall means two lanes of unrestricted traffic are now restored on SH6.

“There is still some work remaining at the site to complete repairs to the road surface that was damaged during the rockfall and subsequent scaling that happened to make the site safe.  This work needs to occur in warmer temperatures and is programmed for our next construction season this coming summer,” Miss Whinham says.

Source: New Zealand Police

Attributable to Police Commissioner Richard Chambers:

A rapid review of Police IT systems and devices has found while Police have a wide range of security measures in place, there are opportunities to strengthen and tighten controls on their use.

The review found Police has a range of modern security controls which protect Police information and systems from malicious activity. Most user activity is logged in line with good industry practice and there is clear guidance and expectations for staff around acceptable use. 

However, the review also identified several areas where improvement was needed. These include more monitoring of staff internet use and stronger filtering mechanisms to guard against inappropriate or harmful content being accessed or downloaded.

It also recommended better oversight of all Police-owned devices, including those that sit outside the Police network for legitimate work purposes.

Police is an extremely complex workplace and different levels of security settings will always be required by some staff for lawful policing purposes. Some staff also require devices that operate outside the central Police system.

However, the review has made it very clear the current settings are not robust enough and urgent attention is required.  The report includes recommendations to strengthen the settings.

I have made two decisions immediately:

– Re-introducing audits of data and internet usage on police devices, a process that was halted 4-5 years ago. These will recommence as soon as possible.

– Initiating an assessment of Police-owned standalone devices which operate outside the Police network. While there are legitimate work reasons for such devices, clarity is needed around the oversight of them.

I have requested a remediation plan to consider the review’s recommendations and address key issues. I have asked this be done quickly and expect to make further decisions within the month.

We have shared the review with other relevant agencies.

The NZ Police Rapid Review Summary Report is attached.

The Commissioner’s statement announcing the review on May 16 can be found here.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Police

The north bound lanes of State Highway 5, at the Bayview end, Te Pohue have been closed due to dangerous conditions following a diesel spill.

Road cleaning crews have been called to deal with the spillage.

Motorists are advised to take care and drive to the conditions.

ENDS