Category: MIL-OSI

Source: New Zealand Government

Construction is starting on a sustainable green hydrogen facility in South Taranaki, supported by a $19.9 million government investment, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says.

“We’ve waited more than five years for this project to begin, after it was delayed by years of red tape and appeals under the previous Resource Management Act consent process,” Mr Jones says.

The project includes supplying renewable electricity to the Ballance Agri-Nutrients’ Kapuni facility in South Taranaki for their site operations and producing green hydrogen for emissions-free transport at Hiringa Energy’s refuelling operations. 

“A delay like this, for a project so important to a regional economy, shouldn’t have happened. I welcome the economic benefits, jobs, and alternative energy source this initiative will bring to Taranaki.” Mr Jones says.

Around 50 jobs are expected to be created during construction, with a further seven permanent roles established post construction at the facility.

“This will be one of the first projects in New Zealand to integrate wind, industrial renewable electricity supply and zero-carbon green hydrogen fuel production at scale.” 

“The initiative unlocks significant local investment and will be a vital contributor to long-term, development in the region and will help diversify the Taranaki economy by supporting new, innovative clean energy industries,” Mr Jones says. 

The $19.9m investment was allocated to the project from the former Provincial Growth Fund in 2020. The full cost of the project will be up to $112.3m, with the additional co-funding supplied from the project partners

The project is a partnership between the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Ballance Agri-Nutrients Limited, Hiringa Energy Limited, Parininihi ki Waitōtara, and Todd. Construction starts at the facility this month.

Source: New Zealand Police

Police can confirm one person has died following a crash in Lower Moutere last night.

The single vehicle crash at the intersection of Waiwhero and Edwards roads was reported at around 8:25pm.

The sole occupant of the vehicle died at the scene.

The road was closed for a period of time following the crash but has since re-opened.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre 

Source: New Zealand Police

Please attribute to Detective Senior Sergeant Kristine Clarke, Area Manager Investigations Waikato East:

Police hold serious concerns for the welfare of missing Papamoa woman Nicola O’Connor and are urgently seeking information on her whereabouts.

Nicola’s house bus was found on the Rapurapu Track in the Lower Kaimai area yesterday afternoon (3 February).

A Search and Rescue team has spent the day searching the area without success.

The 42-year-old is known to have been travelling in the grey coloured Nissan house bus in the Bay of Plenty and Matamata area in the days leading up to the vehicle being located.

Police are appealing for anybody who may have seen Nicola or has information as to her possible whereabouts to contact them via 105 quoting file number 260203/1626.

We would also like to hear from anybody who was on the Rapurapu track or in that area on Tuesday that may have seen Nicola or any activity that may assist the enquiry to locate her.

The Rapurapu track is a popular day walk for trampers located off SH29 on the Matamata side of the Kaimai Ranges.

ENDS
Issued by the Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Police

Please attribute the following to Detective Senior Sergeant Nik Leigh:  

Police investigating a homicide in Crichton, Clutha, have arrested one person following the death of a woman on Friday 23 January.

Emergency services were called to Adams Flats Road around 6.10pm where a woman found deceased, and a second person was critically injured.

A man has now been charged with murder following a bedside hearing today.

We understand this is a distressing event for the small community. Police would like to reassure residents that officers are not searching for any other people in relation to the matter.

ENDS 

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Police

One person has sadly died following a serious crash on Leeston Road, Springston, this afternoon.

Police were notified of the crash, which involved a car and a pedestrian, around 3.30pm today [Wednesday 4 February].

Police can confirm that the pedestrian was a child, who, despite best efforts of emergency services, sadly died at the scene.

Leeston Road remains closed between Goulds Road and Bethels Road, while the Serious Crash Unit conducted a scene examination.

Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.

ENDS 

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Police

One Southbound lane on State Highway 2, Ngauranga, Wellington, is blocked following a crash this afternoon.

Police were called to the two-vehicle crash, just before the Ngauranga exit, around 4.40pm.

No injuries were reported, however one southbound lane is blocked due to a fuel leak from one of the vehicles.

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

ENDS

Source: New Zealand Police

Three alleged offenders had getaway plans foiled after an aggravated robbery in Manurewa this morning.

The Counties Manukau Major Crime Team have charged three teenagers after the incident which first occurred at around 7.15am.

Detective Senior Sergeant Dave Paea says three offenders entered the superette on Mahia Road.

“One of these offenders was allegedly carrying a hammer and threatened a worker at the store,” he says.

“After stealing the till and other products, the offenders fled in a stolen vehicle and dumped it in a nearby street.”

From there, the young people were allegedly seen getting into another vehicle.

Detective Senior Sergeant Paea says the public quickly provided information to Police about the new vehicle.

“Police camera operators tracked this vehicle’s movements onto Alfriston Road,” he says.

“From there a combined effort between the Eagle helicopter and ground units directed our focus to Ellen Street in Manurewa.

“The vehicle was found outside a property, and inside three males were arrested and a till, along with other property was recovered.”

Two males, aged 17, have been charged with aggravated robbery and will appear in the Manukau Youth Court today.

A 16-year-old male has also been charged with aggravated robbery and assaulting a blunt instrument. He is also expected in the same court today.

“I’d like to acknowledge all the staff involved in this morning’s response, which has resulted in these quick apprehensions.”

ENDS

Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

Source: New Zealand Police

Two men linked to the Comanchero Motorcycle Club will face serious drugs and firearms charges, after searches at south-east Auckland properties.

Investigators from the Motorcycle Gang Unit, part of the wider National Gang Unit, executed three search warrants across Flat Bush this morning.

Detective Inspector Wayne Gray, from the National Gang Unit, says two men were arrested at separate addresses.

“Today’s enforcement activity targeted a patched member and an associate of the Comancheros,” he says.

“As a result, we have located a press that will be alleged to have been used to press bricks of cocaine.

“Police have also seized a loaded pistol at one address.”

At another address, nearly a kilogram of a cutting agent was located along with around 64 grams of methamphetamine.

A 33-year-old patched Comanchero is facing a charge of conspiracy to deal methamphetamine.

Meanwhile, a 30-year-old associate of the gang has been charged with possession for supply of methamphetamine, unlawful possession of a pistol and unlawfully possessing ammunition.

Both men are expected in the Manukau District Court this afternoon.

“It’s no secret that the Comancheros gang continue to impose suffering and a negative influence on many communities across this country,” Detective Inspector Gray says.

“Police remain committed to using every opportunity to prevent and disrupt this criminal activity from occurring, and today’s enforcement is a good example of that.”

ENDS.

Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

Source: NZCTU

A collective of 49 unions, lawyers, NGOs, academics, former Workplace Relations Ministers, and current spokespeople have co-signed an open letter calling on all Members of Parliament to vote against the Employment Relations Amendment Bill, currently before the House.

“These changes threaten every single worker in Aotearoa. This is the most anti-worker Bill we’ve seen in decades,” said NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi President Sandra Grey.

“Working people have a basic right to seek remedies for unjustifiable and unlawful dismissal. This Bill effectively destroys that right, leaving workers completely exposed to abuses of power by their employers.

“The Bill also allows employers to misclassify employees as contractors, and to strip them of basic entitlements like holiday pay and sick leave. This has the potential to undermine worker rights completely in some industries and will lead to the destruction of rights in many others over time.

“This Bill was clearly opposed during the select committee process, with employment experts and working people signalling that it will dramatically worsen an imbalance of power that already benefits employers. The majority of the submissions on the Bill were against it.

“We are asking every Member of Parliament to listen to the public, experts, and those impacted most by these changes, and vote this Bill down at the next reading.

“This dangerous Bill must not proceed,” said Grey.

Source: New Zealand Police

One person has died following a crash involving a car and a pedestrian on Mapuia Road on Friday 30 January. 

Police were notified of the crash around 4.40pm, on a private driveway.

Sadly, the victim passed away yesterday from their injuries.

Police continue to investigate the circumstances of the crash.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre