Category: MIL-OSI

Source: New Zealand Police

Over the past 48 hours police have seen worrying speeds on Manawatū roads.

Despite a heavy road policing presence on our roads, Sergeant Ryan Harrison says some people travel at excessive speeds and it’s got to stop.

“There have been a number of serious tragic crashes in the district.

“We want people to be able to visit family and friends safely yet we’ve found way too many drivers speeding over the Christmas New Year period.

“It’s frustrating,” says Sergeant Harrison.

“We stop people for speeding and drivers are cross about being caught.

“But we see the crashes these speeds can cause and nobody wants to be part of that.”

As well as speeding, road police found a variety of other dangerous behaviour while they were out trying to keep the roads safe over the holiday season:

• A drunk driver blew 854 which is more than three times the legal limit
• Another was caught doing 110kmh along Fitzherbert Ave (50km zone)
• A driver did 124kmh in the 80km zone near Bunnythorpe
• One driver was caught doing 133kmh leaving the Sanson township
• Another went 132kmh heading into Ashhurst in the rain
• A driver was detected doing 144kmh on the TAAT highway near Woodville.

Sergeant Harrison says he knows that people will read this and dismiss it as not applying to them but he sees the results of speeding every day.

“It’s simple. Simply slow down. Please,” he says.

“If we lower our speed on the roads from an average of 102 km/h to 98 km/h then we estimate it would save 52 lives every year.”

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Police

To be attributed to Otago Coastal Search and Rescue Coordinator Sergeant Matt Sheat:

Teams searching for missing man Connor Purvis have located a body high on the southern side of Mount Huxley about 9am this morning.

While formal identification is yet to take place, it is believed to be the missing 20-year-old who intended to climb Mount Huxley late last month.

This was hard work, in a remote, rugged and high-risk environment.

Police would like to thank all those who assisted in the search efforts, including multiple local volunteers and search teams such as the Omarama volunteer fire brigade, also members of the public who reported information to help us understand our search area.

It’s been a long, tough week for all involved. This has been a true team effort and the good people of Omarama and Mackenzie have been providing incredible support to the search teams.

In particular we extend our thanks to the following agencies:

• Oamarama Land Search and Rescue
• Oamaru Land Search and Rescue
• Wanaka Land Search and Rescue
• Dunedin Land Search and Rescue
• Mackenzie Land Search and Rescue
• Otago Amateur Radio Emergency Communications
• Oamaru Amateur Radio Emergency Communications
• Mt Cook Department of Conservation Alpine Cliff Rescue Team
• Queenstown Alpine Cliff Rescue
• Wanaka Swiftwater, Canyon Search and Rescue Team
• Heliventures (Oamaru)
• Helicopter Line (Mt Cook)

Police are grateful to Connor’s friends and family for their input and assistance with the search. Our thoughts and sympathies go out to them during this difficult time.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Police

State Highway 1, Tirau Road, southeast of Karapiro, is blocked following a single vehicle crash.

Emergency services received reports of the crash at around 1:10pm.

There are no reported injuries.

Motorists should expect delays and are asked to delay travel if possible.

ENDS

Issued by the Police Media Centre.

Source: New Zealand Police

District:

Source: Press Release Service

Headline: The Village Rise: What It Takes to Create a Modern Neighbourhood That Still Feels Like Matakana

Discover how The Village Rise blends modern neighbourhood design with Matakana’s relaxed charm, lifestyle, and timeless coastal character.

The post The Village Rise: What It Takes to Create a Modern Neighbourhood That Still Feels Like Matakana first appeared on PR.co.nz.

Source: New Zealand Police

Curletts Road, State Highway 75, is closed following a serious two-vehicle crash.

The crash, which involved a car and a motorbike, was reported to emergency services about 11am.

Police are in attendance and the serious crash unit has been advised.

One person has been taken to hospital in a critical condition

Motorists are asked to avoid the area.

ENDS

Issued by the Police Media Centre.

Source: New Zealand Police

Invercargill Police have charged a 44-year-old man with theft following the removal of veteran war plaques from St John Cemetery.

Between 28 October and 22 November, nine plaques were taken, four of which were taken from the graves of Returned Service personnel who served in the World War I and II.

Senior Constable Craig Colyer says all nine plaques have since been recovered, but, sadly, some were damaged beyond repair.

“While we are pleased the plaques have been located, it is disappointing that not all could be restored to their original condition,” he says.

“Theft at any time is appalling, but targeting a cemetery is a particularly low act.

“We hope this arrest brings some comfort to the affected families, and we want to thank the public for their assistance with the investigation.”

The accused has been charged with theft and will appear in the Invercargill District Court on 13 January.

ENDS

Issued by the Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Police

State Highway 1 northbound has been closed at Greville Road as Police respond to a serious incident.

Officers were called to the area about 10:50am.

Police thank the public for their patience, and ask them to delay travel if possible and follow suggested diversions.

ENDS

Source: New Zealand Government

New workforce data shows the frontline mental health and addiction workforce has grown significantly and vacancy rates have decreased under this Government, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says.

“I’ve been very clear that faster access to support and more frontline workers is a top priority, and that focus has paid off. Since coming into Government, Health New Zealand has seen an increase of more than 11 per cent of full-time equivalent mental health and addiction workers,” Mr Doocey says.

“The growth in the workforce has led to a reduction in vacancy rates, with some professions experiencing a 50 per cent decrease.

“When we took office, more than 10 per cent of Health NZ social worker roles were vacant, that figure is now just over 5 per cent. Mental health registered nurse vacancies have been halved, falling from almost 15 per cent in 2023 to just over 7 per cent. Vacancies among drug and alcohol counsellors have dropped from more than 14 per cent to 5.5 per cent.

“More than 400 full-time mental health nurses and nearly 90 full-time social workers have been employed within Health New Zealand.

“We have grown the clinical psychology and psychiatry workforce. We exceeded our 2025 target by funding 74 clinical psychology interns, well above the original goal of 60. We have also achieved record uptake in psychiatry training, with 48 junior doctors entering Stage 1 last year, up from 33 in 2023.

“Behind every one of those new psychologists, nurses, social workers and psychiatrists are hundreds of people who are often at the lowest point of their lives, now able to be seen, heard and supported faster.

“The Auditor-General called for a specific mental health workforce plan in response to wait times and vacancy rates increasing under the previous Government. We prioritised delivering that plan in the Government’s first year, and this data shows it’s paying off.

“These workforce gains are delivering faster access to support for New Zealanders. The latest results show improvements across all three access targets, with more than 83 per cent of people accessing primary support within one week, and over 82 per cent accessing specialist services within three weeks.

“This is exactly the clear direction the sector has been asking for, and we’re committed to continuing this momentum in 2026 and further growing the frontline.

“We’re focused on fixing the basics and building the future so when someone takes the brave step of reaching out for help, that support is there.”

 Note to editors:

• Data is sourced from a combination of the Health Workforce Information Programme and HNZ payroll data.
• Information from September 2025 quarter is still provisional and subject to change. Vacancy information excludes data from Canterbury and West Coast Districts.
• Information is comparing 30 September 2023 to 30 September 2025.

Source: New Zealand Police

Please attribute to Senior Sergeant Blair Dalton:

Today the search for missing tramper Connor Purvis continued.

Around 50 people focused on the upper South Temple Valley, Mt Huxley and the Huxley River South Branch, both on foot and via helicopter.

We remain closely connected with Connor’s family and we continue to feel for them, and support them, as our search efforts continue.

Tomorrow we will be using the Recco device, with the Mount Cook Alpine Cliff Rescue team, to assist with the search.

This technology is often used to locate people lost in the outdoors, and can detect items such as headtorches, cellphones and other items.

Police are interested to hear from anyone who has climbed Mt Huxley in the past several weeks. Please contact Police via 105 and reference file 260102/2266.

Police thank all those involved in the search efforts in this difficult and rugged terrain.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre