Source: New Zealand Police
Police are in attendance of a serious crash in Matamata this afternoon.
Emergency services were called to a crash involving a car and a pedestrian at around 1.50pm on Manuka Street.
Initial indications suggest there are serious injuries.
The Serious Crash Unit has been advised.
The road is closed while emergency services are in attendance.
Motorists are advised to avoid the area if possible and expect delays.
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Source: New Zealand Police
Emergency services are at the scene of a crash that has blocked the southbound lane of the Christchurch Northern Motorway this morning near Lineside Road.
The crash involves a single vehicle and was reported shortly after 7am, and diversions are in place.
Initial indications are that there are moderate injuries.
Police advise to expect delays and thank motorists for their understanding.
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Source: New Zealand Police
Police can release the name of the teenager killed after a crash on a Far North Beach a week ago.
The crash involving a 4WD vehicle was reported on Tokerau Beach on 14 November just before 7.30pm.
Sadly, Samuel James Herdman, 17, of Pukenui died at the scene.
Two other people were injured at the time.
One was airlifted to Starship Hospital in Auckland, with the other transported to Kaitaia Hospital.
Both people have now been discharged from hospital.
Police extend our sympathies to Samuel’s friends and loved ones for their loss.
Samuel’s family have asked for privacy as they grieve his passing.
Police are conducting enquiries on behalf of the Coroner.
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Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: New Zealand Police
Attribute to Detective Senior Sergeant Steve Wescott:
A man has been arrested and charged following unexplained injuries to a baby in Hutt Valley.
Yesterday at around 8am Police were called to an address in Avalon after a report of a disorder.
Upon arrival, officers were made aware of a baby who had allegedly been intentionally injured.
They were transported to hospital by ambulance in a serious condition.
A 30-year-old man was arrested at the scene, he is due to reappear in Hutt Valley District Court on 1 December, charged with four counts of injures with intent to injure.
We would like to thank members of the community who are supporting the family and who have come forward with information already.
Police would like to speak with anyone else who may have information in relation to the incident or witnessed any unusual behaviour.
Hutt Valley Area Commander Inspector Wade Jennings would like to remind the community that it’s not just whānau who are living in the house that can report concerns of harm to our tamariki, but anyone who suspects or witnesses behaviours that are concerning.
Inspector Jennings encourages those who have thought about reporting, and haven’t, to do so. This can be done anonymously through to Oranga Tamariki or to Police.
Information can be provided through 105, please reference file number: 251120/0124
You can also make a report anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
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Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: New Zealand Police
Police is seeking the whereabouts of Dean Shedden, who is wanted to arrest.
A warrant has now been issued for the 56-year-old’s arrest for beaching bail conditions, and not returning to custody.
The remand prisoner was on bail for compassionate grounds after being granted by a court.
On Friday 14 November, Shedden failed to return to custody at Mt Eden Corrections Facility by 5pm in accordance with those bail conditions.
Police have been making enquiries at known addresses through the week to locate Shedden.
He remains outstanding and we believe he is taking steps to evade Police.
Shedden should not be approached, but if the public see him, please contact Police on 111.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts can also contact Police on 105 using the reference number 251114/1828.
Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
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Jarred Williamson/NZ Police
Source: New Zealand Police
It was smiles, not tears, at the departure gate as a Police reunited a German tourist with his stolen belongings.
A car break-in earlier this week threatened a sour-end to the tourist’s trip down under.
On 19 November, he reported to the front counter at the Auckland Central Police Base on Federal Street.
“At some point during the previous night the tourist’s rental car parked on Crummer Road, Grey Lynn was broken into,” Inspector Grae Anderson, Auckland Central Area Commander says.
“His backpack was taken, which contained various valuable electronics, his passport, and German bank cards.”
While he was making the report the front counter staff discovered the man had an AirTag attached to his property.
“Enquiries led Police to an address in Wiri,” Inspector Anderson says.
“With this information the City Area Prevention Team put together a search warrant, which was executed by Auckland Central Tactical Crime Unit with the help of Beat Section staff.”
The search recovered almost all of the tourist’s stolen property, including his laptop, digital camera, a drone, passport, German IDs and bank cards.
“During the search officers also located a large amount of unrelated cash and ammunition,” Inspector Anderson says.
Further enquiries led officers to locate the tourists backpack discarded in a skip bin at a nearby service station in Manukau.
“In the same bin we located other suitcases and travel bags, which did not belong to the German tourist,” says Inspector Anderson.
“We are currently working to identify additional victims and return the belongings to their rightful owners.”
The recovered property was returned to the grateful tourist at Auckland Airport as he waited for his flight out of New Zealand.
“We are pleased to be able to get his belongings back before he left the country,” Inspector Anderson says.
“He might have had a bad experience but being able to put that right is pleasing for our staff and I am proud of the combined effort it took to get his property returned.”
A 41-year-old man appeared in the Auckland District Court on 20 November charged with theft-ex car and unlawfully possessing ammunition. He was remanded in custody to reappear on 11 December.
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Amanda Wieneke/NZ Police
Source: New Zealand Government
Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay has welcomed progress towards Costa Rica joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in Melbourne today.
Ministers will meet again before the end of the year with a view to announce the substantial conclusion for Costa Rica’s accession working group. Costa Rica is set to become the second economy to accede to the Agreement following the United Kingdom, which joined CPTPP in December 2024.
CPTPP Members have also decided to initially commence accession processes with Uruguay this year as well as Indonesia, the Philippines and the United Arab Emirates in 2026.
They also agreed to continue discussions with other aspirant economies towards meeting the Auckland Principles that guide the accession process.
“CPTPP remains a gold standard trade agreement, at a time of great turbulence in the global trading system. That is why there is such strong interest from countries seeking to join the agreement” says Minister McClay.
The inaugural Trade and Investment Dialogues between the CPTPP and the European Union (EU) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) were also held.
“International trade rules, which small economies like New Zealand rely upon, are under threat. These dialogues demonstrate there is still support for a system governed by rules. Upholding and expanding trade rules is critical for New Zealand exporters,” Mr McClay says.
CPTPP Members will work on concrete next steps with the EU and ASEAN to strengthen cooperation across a range of areas, including digital trade, supply chain resilience, trade integration, and in support of the WTO reform process.
Source: New Zealand Government
The Government is delivering on its campaign promise to add feral cats to the Predator Free 2050 target species list to protect our precious native wildlife, Conservation Minister Tama Potaka says.
“We know people want their local reserves, beaches and bush tracks to be full of birds, not predators. Including feral cats in the Predator Free 2050 goal means stronger protection for local wildlife, better tools for communities, and less impact on farmers, whānau and our economy.
“Feral cats are now found across Aotearoa New Zealand, from farms to forests, and they put huge pressure on native birds, bats, lizards and insects. They also spread toxoplasmosis, which harms dolphins, affects people, and costs farmers through lost stock,” Mr Potaka says.
The Department of Conservation’s consultation on the Predator Free Strategy received close to 3,400 submissions. Over 90 percent backed improved feral cat management.
“New Zealanders were clear. They want action,” Mr Potaka says.
Adding feral cats to the Predator Free 2050 target list will:
Examples of the damage caused by feral cats include the loss of more than 100 short-tailed bats in a single week near Ohakune, and the near-extinction of pukunui/southern dotterel on Rakiura/Stewart Island.
“New Zealand is full of proud cat owners, and domestic pets are not part of this Predator Free target. Responsible ownership, desexing, microchipping, and keeping cats away from wildlife, remains an important part of the solution,” Mr Potaka says.
Further detail on priority work will be set out in the revised Predator Free 2050 Strategy, due to be released in March 2026.
Source: New Zealand Transport Agency
There’s some good news for those travelling between Nelson and Blenheim next week.
Rob Service, System Manager Nelson/Tasman, says planned night closures to allow for chip sealing work between the Rai Valley and Whangamoa are no longer required.
“Our contractors have done the hard yards and have managed to finish the work a week ahead of schedule.”
“It is great news for the community and for all those who travel the route regularly. It means the route will be open at night next week and there will be no need for people to take the detour via State Highway 63 and the Wairau Valley,” Mr Service says.
SH6 Rai Valley – Whangamoa, road resurfacing work November 2025.
Mr Service says while this job is now finished, there is still a lot of activity on the network that drivers need to be aware of.
“Our crews are pushing hard on chip sealing and other maintenance work across the network. We are working hard to get our highways ready for the busy summer season.”
“Please bear with us while we get this maintenance done. It is an important investment in keeping highways safe and resilient for the public,” Mr Service says.
Source: New Zealand Police
Suspicious behaviour and a van full of equipment led officers on an fruitful discovery in Manurewa earlier this week.
Just after midnight on Tuesday, Police were alerted to a vehicle travelling on Roscommon Road with stolen registration plates.
Counties Manukau Central Area Prevention Manager, Inspector Warrick Adkin, says the plates were originally from a Ford Transit but were observed on a Toyota Hiace.
“Eagle was quickly deployed and within 15 minutes the crew had located the vehicle on Wordsworth Road.”
Inspector Adkin says the vehicle was stopped with no issues, however a search by officers located a large amount of equipment.
“Staff suspected the items may have been stolen so they were seized and later that morning a nearby Papatoetoe business reported a burglary at their location.
“It appears the alleged offender broke into the yard of the Papatoetoe business by cutting a hole in the fence, taking more than $5000 worth of equipment before fleeing.
“This is a great example of officers identifying a vehicle with false plates and being proactive to investigate further.”
Inspector Adkin says the equipment has since been returned to its rightful owner.
A 45-year-old man will appear in Manukau District Court on 11 December charged with burglary.
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Holly McKay/NZ Police