Category: MIL-OSI

Source: New Zealand Police

A statement on behalf of Nils and Anders, dad and uncle of Måns Loke Bernhardsson:

Måns was a super kind and loveable member of our family.

Back home in Sweden, he had many friends and was loved by all those friends and family very deeply.

He was a fantastic artist and was extremely talented. Måns was autistic, which was one of the many things we loved about him.

He was incredibly athletic and loved downhill skiing and gymnastics.

Måns was on holiday in New Zealand on what was a ‘hastily’ booked trip with two of his friends.

Him and his friends were adventuring around in their campervan, travelling both the North and South Islands.

He loved New Zealand, and often told us that he would like to stay here as long as possible.

Our hearts are broken, and we are going to miss Måns dearly. He was a cherished member of our family and it is going to be difficult to get used to not having him around.

We have received overwhelming support from community, officials, local iwi, and people back home. We are very grateful for their support through this difficult time and we want to express our gratitude.

Note to media: The family will not be providing further comment and ask that their privacy be respected as they grieve.

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Issued by Police Media Centre 

Source: New Zealand Police

One lane is now open and traffic management is in place following a two-vehicle crash between Hamner Springs Road and Leslie Hills Road.

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

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Issued by the Police Media Centre.

Source: New Zealand Police

Attributable to Investigations Manager Tauranga, Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Varnam:

A man has been charged with murder after the death of a woman in Pukehina on New Year’s Day.

Police were called to the Old Coach Road property about 3pm on 1 January, where a woman was found deceased.

A 50-year-old man was initially charged with assaulting a person in a family relationship, however he now faces a charge of murder. He is due to appear in Tauranga District Court tomorrow.

Police enquiries are ongoing, and we ask anyone with information about what happened to contact Police through 105, either online or over the phone, and reference file number 260101/9901.

Reports can also be made anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

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Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Government

The Crown and Ngāti Hāua have concluded nine years of negotiations as settlement legislation passes its final reading in Parliament today, Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says.  

“This is a significant day for the Crown and Ngāti Hāua. Through this settlement the Crown acknowledges its historical breaches of the Treaty, returns 64 culturally significant sites, and provides $19 million of financial redress.

“The legislation also provides statutory pardons for Te Rangiātea and Mātene Ruta Te Whareaitu, who were tried under martial law in 1846, meaning they were deprived of protections that would have been their right at a civilian trial. These pardons remove their convictions, recognise their mana and honour their legacy within Ngāti Hāua for future generations.

“Recognising this history is vital to restoring our relationship going forward, and the redress provided by the Crown will contribute to the economic, social and cultural wellbeing of Ngāti Hāua for future generations.

“It was a privilege to welcome Ngāti Hāua back into the House today and to share this moment as we look toward a future shaped by a strengthened relationship.”

Ngāti Hāua is an iwi based in the Central North Island, centred in Taumarunui. They have a population of approximately 2,500 members.

A copy of Te Pua o Te Riri Kore, the Ngāti Hāua Deed of Settlement, is available online at: Te Tari Whakatau – Ngāti Hāua. 

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government is providing a $950,000 loan through the Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF) to support a Māori trust to increase productivity on its farmland near Hāwera. The investment is expected to create jobs and drive regional growth, Minister for Rural Communities Mark Patterson and Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka announced today.

“The loan will support the trust to upgrade essential on‑farm infrastructure and move from passive leasing of its land to more active farm management.

These upgrades will allow the trust to increase its milking capacity, lift stock numbers and boost milk production and profitability by up to 25 per cent,” Mr Patterson said.

The Omuturangi 6E & 7A Ahu Whenua Trust, which administers 84 hectares of land on behalf of 290 owners, will receive the funding and contribute $120,000 to the project.

“In the longer term, the trust’s aspirations are to self-govern and manage their whenua Māori more profitably. They will also use the farm to train their people in commercial farming,” Mr Potaka said.

Without the loan, the land would have reverted from dairying to less-productive livestock grazing, as the old dairy shed had reached the end of its economic life.

“This project will benefit not only the trust’s landowners but also the wider local economy, with the trust engaging local businesses as part of its expansion,” Mr Patterson said.

This loan is a strong example of the RIF’s focus on Māori economic development. It provides investment where funding could not be secured elsewhere and supports regional growth and employment,” Mr Potaka said.

Construction is expected to begin shortly, with a new dairy shed operational later this year.

Source: New Zealand Police

A youth has been arrested and charged following a serious assault on a bus driver in Massey last night.

At about 7pm, Police responded to reports of a person had been injured on a bus on Colwill Road.

Detective Senior Sergeant Ryan Bunting, Waitematā West Area Investigations Manager, says upon arrival the alleged offender had fled on foot.

“The bus driver was transported to hospital in a moderate condition.

“This was an understandably frightening ordeal for the victim and we are continuing to support them.”

He says Police have been making a number of enquiries and this morning arrested a 14-year-old in relation to the alleged attack.

“He has since appeared in Waitākere Youth Court charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, assault and possession of an offence weapon.

“People have a right to be safe going about their business, without having to be subjected to any type of violence.

“Any violent behaviour will not be accepted and those engaging in it will be held to account.”

The youth will reappear in Waitākere Youth Court on 17 February.

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Holly McKay/NZ Police

Source: New Zealand Police

The recovery operation at Mount Maunganui has resumed, several hours after being suspended this morning.

Detective Inspector Lew Warner says work restarted officially at 2pm, after the team received confirmation from experts that the area was safe to enter and resume operations.

“Following consultation with a number of experts on the ground, the recovery teams have been given the green light to continue with the recovery.

“While the suspension of work is frustrating for everybody involved, the correct measures must be taken to ensure the safety of everybody at the scene.

“I want to reiterate that it is absolutely necessary that we do everything in our power to keep the recovery team safe.

“These people have been working tirelessly in a range of testing conditions across the last week, to bring families their loved ones back.”

Work continues near the ablution block

The recovery team, involving Police, Fire and Emergency New Zealand’s urban Search and Rescue, and contract drivers are continuing to focus on the area where the ablution block was.

“This is meticulous work which we have to conduct extremely carefully. Teams will continue to work delicately through the area of interest, and we expect this to take some time,” says Detective Inspector Warner.

Police are not yet in a position to comment on what has been located to date, however expect the recovery to continue in the coming days.

One week since the landslide

Today marks one week since the landslide. Police would again like to acknowledge the community for the outpouring of support.

“The Mount Maunganui community is an extremely tight-knit community, and ever since this devastating event, they have come together and offered any assistance they can for the families, the emergency workers and everybody impacted,” says Detective Inspector Warner.

“We would also like to acknowledge the many staff assisting with the recovery. Not just the recovery team, but our family liaison officers and other specialist staff across the board.”

Police continue to seek imagery of mountain prior to slip

Police are asking anyone with video footage and images of the slip at Mt Maunganui to upload it via this online portal.

We are particularly interested in any footage or images of the campsite and Mount Maunganui between Wednesday night right through to the time the slip happened and the immediate time after the slip.

We have already received more than 100 video clips and photos through the portal and we want to thank those who have taken the time to send this in.

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Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Police

One person has died following a crash this afternoon on State Highway 7/Mouse Point Road, Tekoa Range, Hurunui.

Police were notified of the crash, involving a motorcycle and a car, around 12pm.

Sadly, despite emergency services best efforts, the motorcyclist died at the scene.

The road remains closed, between Hammer Springs and Culverden, while the Serious Crash Unit carry out a scene examination.

Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.

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Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Government

For the first time in almost 50 years, the Government is building new day specialist schools that will support children with high and complex needs to thrive through its commitment to learning support, Education Minister Erica Stanford announced today. 

“These two new schools represent a hugely significant and long-awaited milestone for specialist education in New Zealand, and for the students and their families who need them,” Ms Stanford says.

“The provision of more day specialist schools is long overdue in New Zealand. It has been a priority for me as Minister, and we know many parents of children with high and complex needs want the option of a specialist education setting.

“We’ve listened to families, communities and specialists around opportunities to help young New Zealanders with higher and complex needs. I am excited for the children who will be pupils and delighted that these options are becoming available for them.”

From Term 2 2027 and Term 1 2028, two day specialist schools are set to open in Palmerston North and South Auckland in response to the increasing demand for specialist education provision in these regions.

The new schools bring the number of specialist schools operating across New Zealand to 29, filling gaps in areas that were short on resources. The last day specialist school established was Hamilton North School in 1977. 

Finance Minister Nicola Willis says ensuring all Kiwi kids have the support they need to learn has been a priority in this Government’s budgets. 

“That’s why the Government provided an additional $746.9 million in last year’s Budget to ensure earlier identification of and better help for children with additional physical, learning and behavioural needs. 

“I am delighted that that these new schools are being established. They will benefit both kids and their parents.”

Ms Stanford says the Government believes that inclusion is choice and specialist schools do an incredible job for students with high and complex needs. 

“Since coming to office, we’ve funded 50 new specialist classrooms and the redevelopment of four specialist schools,” Ms Stanford says.

“Choices have been limited, due to distance and local specialist schools lacking capacity. These new schools will give families in these regions more choice and confidence that their children can learn in an environment that suits them.

“We are committed to supporting all students to unlock their potential, and I’m pleased that these new schools will give more young New Zealanders the learning and support that helps them to thrive.”

The new schools will be manufactured offsite using a standard building design and layout. These will provide purpose-built teaching spaces and facilities to meet the broad range of needs their students may have. They will include accessible indoor and outdoor learning spaces, along with family space and therapy areas.

Source: New Zealand Government

Auckland’s rail network is one major step closer to a modern, more reliable metro system with the completion of the final large-scale pre-City Rail Link works, Rail Minister Winston Peters, Transport Minister Chris Bishop and Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown say.

“The last few weeks of hard graft represent a major achievement for public transport and freight in Auckland,” Rail Minister Winston Peters says.

“After five years of sustained, weeks-long disruptions, rail work will increasingly be delivered in short, targeted closures timed for periods of lower demand that bring Auckland into line with how modern networks are maintained overseas.

“That sustained disruption has strengthened the network ahead of the City Rail Link to handle more frequent trains and builds on major completed upgrades such as extending electrification to Pukekohe and delivering a third main line through the busiest rail junction – work we started in 2020.

“We thank commuters for their patience with bus replacements, and the many workers across KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, City Rail Link Limited and subbies who put in the hard yards.”

Transport Minister Chris Bishop says the completion of the final large-scale pre-City Rail Link works marks the end of the most disruptive phase of rail upgrades in Auckland.

“With trains now back running fully following the four-week summer closure, the five-year programme to rebuild the busiest and most critical parts of the network is complete,” Mr Bishop says.

“This work has rebuilt Auckland’s rail network from the foundations up, so it is ready to support City Rail Link and deliver more trains, more often, with far greater reliability.

“Successive governments have invested more than $560 million – including $159 million in Budget 2024 – to carry out the work.

“We’d like to recognise the efforts of the 1,300+ people who worked across more than 300 sites during the 2025–26 summer rail upgrade. Over the course of the closure, teams replaced foundations and track, installed new drainage, renewed key rail components, removed two level crossings, and carried out the first full network-wide test of the City Rail Link timetable.

“That test saw 84 trains operating across the network at the same time, the largest number ever run simultaneously on Auckland’s metro rail system.

“The hardest and most disruptive work is now behind us. There really is light at the end of the tunnel.

“While there will still be a few more line closures prior to City Rail Link’s opening, these closures are expected to be much shorter and less disruptive.

“What Aucklanders should expect from here is a more reliable network, fewer long shutdowns, and a rail system ready to deliver the full benefits of City Rail Link.”

Mayor Wayne Brown says the milestone shows tangible progress for Aucklanders after years of disruption.

“It has been a long and frustrating time for Aucklanders, especially businesses who have had to put up with disruption for years, so I thank them for their patience as this project has been completed,” Mayor Brown says.

“It’s the most complex project undertaken in New Zealand but there is payoff coming for Auckland. One of my key policies is to Get Auckland Moving and City Rail Link will deliver a stronger, safer rail network that can support more frequent services, reduce congestion and better connect the city as it continues to grow.”

The summer works also delivered key improvements at major stations. On the Western Line, progress at Henderson Station means both tracks are now operating, restoring peak-time services to their usual 10-minute frequency. 

Major progress has also been made at Takanini, Glen Innes,and Te Mahia with piling largely complete and lift shafts now well underway for new pedestrian bridges that will permanently replace level crossings later this year. 

City Rail Link Ltd, Auckland Transport and KiwiRail are now focused on further testing and commissioning ahead of opening. Additional short closures are planned in the lead-up to City Rail Link opening, with disruption largely limited to weekends and public holidays wherever possible.

Key facts and figures

• 1300+ people worked across the Auckland metro network over the summer works
• Five-year Rail Network Rebuild now complete ahead of City Rail Link opening
• 84 trains used in the first full network-wide test of the future CRL timetable
• Since RNR began more than 80 kms of track across the 182 km Auckland network has been replaced
• 1,600+ sleepers replaced and 20 crossover turnouts installed
• 6km of drainage and 6km of foundations replaced
• Two more level crossings removed and major station upgrades delivered