Category: MIL-OSI

Source: New Zealand Police

Attributable to Detective Sergeant Mark Leathem, Coromandel Hauraki CIB:

A man has been arrested after an incident yesterday where a firearm was discharged near a popular Thames swimming hole.

Police were called about 5pm to the location on Kauaeranga Valley Road after reports that a man had threatened members of the public and discharged a shot into the air.

He then allegedly discarded the weapon into vegetation before leaving in a vehicle with another party.

Police Eagle attended and located the vehicle a short time later, and the pair were arrested. The firearm was also recovered from the initial scene. 

The 20-year-old man is due to appear in Hamilton District Court tomorrow on charges including unlawfully possessing a firearm, and discharging a firearm to intimidate.

Police are aware this incident caused significant distress to those members of the public who were present, and additional patrols are in place in the area to provide reassurance.

We would like to hear from anyone who has not yet spoken to us who might have information about this incident or those involved.

If you can help, please use our 105 service and quote reference number 251129/4740.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: Worksafe New Zealand

30 November 2025

WorkSafe is cautioning all businesses that work at height to review their safety systems, following sentencing for a fall that nearly killed a KiwiRail employee.

Source: New Zealand Government

Two new high security units will be built at Hawke’s Bay Regional Prison to help keep criminals off the street and keep Kiwis safe, says Corrections Minister Mark Mitchell.

 “With the prison population increasing due to the governments strong measures on law-and-order, these two new units will add more capacity and resilience to our prison system.”

 “The design and build agreement was signed on Friday 31 October 2025 with contractor Naylor Love and construction work on the 316 beds will start next month. They are due to be finished and fully operational in early 2027,” Mr Mitchell says.

 “Eighty-six per cent of prisoners have convictions for violence or sexual crimes in their offending histories and 38 per cent of prisoners have a gang affiliation.

“Our work to restore law and order is paying off. New Zealand’s prison population has increased by 1,911 since October 2023 and this growth is projected to continue as we remain focused on keeping violent criminals off the street. Its no coincidence that we have 38,000 fewer victims of violent crime compared to last year. Corrections is well prepared for this and operational capacity currently exceeds the prison population.”

The new units at Hawke’s Bay Regional Prison will deliver an accelerated increase in capacity ahead of further work underway to ensure New Zealand’s prison system has the capacity it needs going forward.

This includes the new facility at Waikeria Prison opened earlier this year which added 500 high-security beds to the national prison network alongside 96 dedicated beds for mental health and addiction services. Additional projects underway at Waikeria Prison and Christchurch Men’s Prison will further increase capacity by more than 1,000 beds in 2029.

“We also have nearly 900 additional Corrections Officers working on the frontline since the launch of Corrections’ highly successful recruitment campaign in February 2024. The campaign has attracted around 150,000 applications, and Corrections has halved its turnover rate in just two years.” says Mr Mitchell.

“Taking these steps now ensures Corrections is in a strong position to safely manage future growth of the prison population and keep Kiwis safe from violent offenders.”

Note to editors:

• Corrections is self-funding the new units at Hawke’s Bay Regional Prison through the department’s existing budget. No additional funding has been required for this work.
• Hawke’s Bay Regional Prison currently has an operational capacity of 755. The two new units will bring this to 1,071 when they open in 2027.
• The new prison population peak was 10,911 on 28 November 2025. The prison population fluctuates daily due to arrests, releases, prisoner movements and court decisions.

Source: New Zealand Police

Emergency services are attending a serious crash in Bucklands Crossing, Dunedin this evening.

Just before 7pm, Police were advised of the crash on Lamb Hill Road.

Initial indications are that there are serious injuries.

Lamb Hill Road is closed while emergency services work at the scene.

We ask motorists to expect delays and take an alternative route if possible.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Police

Akatarawa Road is currently closed following a crash.

Emergency services were called to the two-vehicle crash, involving a motorcycle at 4:20pm.

One person has sustained serious injuries.

Motorists are advised to avoid the area and expect delays.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Government

Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard says the Government is using the latest drone and thermal imaging technology to boost the fight against bovine tuberculosis (TB).

Disease eradication agency OSPRI is trialling the use of thermal imaging drones to monitor and assess the location and density of possum populations, the main spreaders of the disease.

“I have challenged OSPRI to constantly seek out new and innovative ways to step up the fight against bovine TB. 

“Many farmers today may not remember the terrible situation that existed back in the late 70’s through to the early 90’s where thousands of herds had TB infections, I remember as a child the anguish and cost this caused my parents whenever an infected cow was found in our herd.

“We only need to look across to the UK and Ireland nowadays to see how much this matters, particularly the mental strain this disease can cause on farmers. That’s why it’s so important that we finish the job.”

OSPRI is working on a selected trial site in the rugged tussock-covered hills of Central Otago where the massive landscapes make traditional possum control challenging.

“New Zealand farmers and taxpayers have invested millions of dollars in the control, and eventual eradication of this disease, but we must finish the job, it all comes down to controlling and monitoring possum numbers. This new technology is expected to give a major boost to this work.”  
 
“This drone technology represents a real step-change in how we approach possum control in some of New Zealand’s most challenging terrain.

In rugged terrain, traditional methods such as trapping, shooting, and helicopter operations are not only difficult but extraordinarily expensive.

These drones allow us to work smarter, not harder—they can access remote areas, detect possum populations, and pinpoint exactly where we need to deploy ground teams. It’s a targeted approach that makes TB control more efficient and cost-effective.”  

The Central Otago trial site was selected because it’s considered a hot spot for TB eradication. It’s also known to have a higher-than-average possum population.

“To eradicate bovine TB, we have to eradicate enough of the possums for the disease to be unable to exist in a possum population.

This technology could well be the kicker we need to achieve, sustainable, and enduring eradication of TB,” says Mr Hoggard
 

Source: New Zealand Police

One person has died after a water-related incident in Glenbrook this morning.

Emergency services were called to the area near Falston Road, Glenbrook, about 8.40am after a person was pulled unresponsive from the water.

CPR was undertaken, however sadly they died at the scene.

The death will be referred to the Coroner.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Police

Emergency services are at the scene of a serious crash in Dublin Street, Picton, involving a truck and a motor home.

Police were called about 7.45am.

Initial indications are that one person has been seriously injured.

The road is closed, and diversions will be in place.

Motorists, please avoid the area.

ENDS 

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Police

Emergency services are at the scene of a serious crash near the intersection of Carroll Street and River Parade, Wairoa.

Police were called about 4.10am after a report of a vehicle leaving the road and entering the water.

Work is ongoing to ascertain if anyone remains in the vehicle.

Cordons are in place, and motorists should avoid the area if possible.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Police

Police can advise a man previously subject of a warrant to arrest, after he failed to return to custody, has been located.

A media release was issued on 21 November.

We can advise the 56-year-old man was arrested in Waterview this afternoon.

He is expected in the Auckland District Court tomorrow.

ENDS.

Jarred Williamson/NZ Police