Category: MIL-OSI

Source: New Zealand Police

Auckland City Police are renewing appeals for information as concerns grow over the whereabouts of missing woman Te Anihana Pomana. 

Te Anihana, 25, was last seen leaving Sky City Hotel in central Auckland at 5.06am on 21 August.

“Since then, there have been no sightings despite exhaustive efforts to locate her over the past week,” Detective Senior Segeant Martin Friend, Auckland City Police, says. 

“As time passes, we are increasingly concerned for her wellbeing.”

Today, Te Anihana’s mother, Catherine Anderson, travelled from Dunedin with close friends to join Police in central Auckland.

Police are delivering flyers to businesses in central Auckland this morning in the hope of jogging the memory of anyone who may have seen or been in contact with the missing woman.

“We do not believe Te Anihana is the victim of foul play at this stage. But we do have a vulnerable person who has not made contact with her family in two weeks,” Detective Senior Sergeant Friend says.

“It’s important that we find Te Anihana so that we can resolve this for her anxious situation for whānau, friends and loved ones.”

“Any piece of information could be pivotal in progressing Police enquiries,” Detective Senior Sergeant Friend says. 

Police can confirm Te Anihana was heading onto Victoria Street West at the time she was last seen.

“Despite extensive CCTV enquiries since then, we have not had further confirmed sightings of her in central Auckland,” Detective Senior Sergeant Friend says.

“To the best of our knowledge, Te Anihana is not carrying a phone and we cannot discount that she may have access to some cash.”

Police are asking anyone with urgent information to call 111.

Anyone with information that can assist Police is asked to call 105.

Please use the reference number 250718/6582.

ENDS.

Statement issued on behalf of Catherine Anderson:

Kia ora everyone,

I’ve travelled from Dunedin with my friends to be here today and very grateful to see you here. 

Thank you.

I’m very grateful to Police who are trying so hard to find my precious daughter.

Te Anihana has been missing for more than two weeks now and we are here because we are determined to find her. 

Te Anihana is a much-loved daughter, sister, niece, friend and mokopuna and we want to find her, take her home and keep her safe.

As a mum, I’m appealing to anyone who has any information about Te Anihana to contact Police.

She maybe in Auckland, but we know she has travelled extensively since mid-July and visited Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, Auckland, Kaeo, Kerikeri and wider Northland.

Someone must have seen her, and our goal is to find her.

Te Anihana, if you see this, we all love you, we miss you, please let us know you are okay. 

To anyone with information, please share it with police as soon as possible.

Thank you.

Timeline of Te Anihana’s known movements:

Police are providing a known timeline of Te Anihana’s movements in recent weeks.

– Early August: Travelled from Dunedin to Christchurch with her father.

– 2 August: Arrived in Auckland and received treatment at Middlemore Hospital for existing injuries, later being discharged.

– Early August: Moves between multiple hostels, hotels and bedsits.

– 18 August 2025: Checked into SkyCity Hotel, Auckland, at 11.11pm.

– 20 August 2025: Seen on CCTV boarding WX1 bus from Hobson Street at 6.37pm. Believed to have travelled to Lincoln Road, Henderson, then return to City.

– 21 August 2025: Confirmed sighting via CCTV leaving SkyCity Hotel at 5:06am, leaving all of her belongings behind.

– 21 August 2025: Confirmed last sighting seen on Victoria Street West at 5.16am.

– 29 August 2025: Police released CCTV footage of Te Anihana’s last known movements. This footage can be obtained by emailing media@police.govt.nz

ENDS.

Nicole Bremner/NZ Police

Source: NZ Department of Conservation

Date:  05 September 2025

The inaugural New Zealand sea lion/pakake/whakahao Symposium/Wānanga is being held to develop and strengthen connections between people and sea lions across Aotearoa. 

DOC Southern South Island Operations Director Aaron Fleming says celebrating and strengthening connections between people and sea lions is more important than ever. 

“Connection to nature is a unifying value embraced by all New Zealanders. New Zealand sea lions are among the rarest in the world and it’s a privilege to share our coastlines with them,” he says.

“We want to celebrate and inspire people to take action – whether by finding out more about them, learning how to share the beach with them safely and respectfully, or getting involved in their conservation, everyone has a part to play.”

The free event will include talks from mana whenua representatives, researchers, fisheries and conservation managers, and will cover a range of topics including mātauraka Kāi Tahu, sea lion diet, archaelogy, disease investigations, road management, and fisheries bycatch mitigation. 

Aukaha Sea Lion Action Plan Community Liaison Kate Stevens West says after years of online meetings, the group’s members and supporters are excited to meet kanohi ki te kanohi (face to face) again.

“This free weekend wānanga brings together mātauraka Māori, science, and community to explore how we can connect with and protect sea lions into the future. Everyone is welcome, whether you’re already involved or just curious to learn more.”

The afternoon session will be a series of facilitated discussions to build connection and discuss what we can do for sea lions in the coming breeding season. 

In addition, Tūhura Otago Museum will be showing us some of the pakake taoka they care for. 

Background information

How you can register for this free event

When: Saturday 13 September 8.30 am to 4.30 pm

All participants are required to register with Tūhura Otago Museum first. 

To register for this free event, please visit: https://checkout.roller.app/otagomuseum/products/sealionsymposium?date=20250913#/sessions

Contact

Source: New Zealand Government

News that the Community Housing Funding Agency has achieved an A+ credit rating from S&P Global will mean more social homes can be delivered more cost effectively, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says.

“Currently, Community Housing Providers (CHPs) account for 16 per cent of our social homes, or around 14,000 houses, while Kāinga Ora provides about 73,000 social homes. 

“Organisations like The Salvation Army, Accessible Properties NZ Ltd, and Te Āhuru Mōwai Ltd Partnership, among others, do a great job providing housing and other support to people in need. This Government wants the CHP sector to grow and thrive. 

“My ambition for the social housing system is for a level playing field between CHPs and Kāinga Ora. The underlying ownership of a house – whether public or private – should be irrelevant. What matters is the provision of warm, dry homes to those who need them, along with social support if required.

“We call this competitive neutrality. In some areas and for some people, CHPs are the answer. In other areas, Kāinga Ora will be the way to go. But while KO’s borrowing is done through the Crown, CHPs have until recently had to access debt from the private market at higher rates meaning it’s been more expensive for them to deliver social homes. 

“Earlier this year, the Government moved to level the playing field between Kāinga Ora and CHPs by establishing Crown lending facilities of up to $150 million for the Community Housing Funding Agency (CHFA). This support was conditional on CHFA obtaining a credit rating. 

“I’m pleased that CHFA has today received an A+ credit rating from international ratings agency S&P Global. 

“This credit rating means they will be able to access capital more easily at lower rates. This means they can pass those savings on to CHPs who can then deliver social housing at lower costs. 

“This very good credit rating will unlock lower borrowing costs for CHFA and for CHPs, meaning they’ll be able to deliver more social homes for less.

“For many CHPs, it will mean headline interest rates reduce by up to 1.00%, lowering their annual interest bills by 15-20%. 

“Lowering the borrowing costs for CHPs will have two key benefits.

“For existing and soon-to-be-signed social housing contracts including those funded through Budgets 2024 and 2025, CHPs moving to new loan terms financed by CHFA could save up to $75,000 over the 20 to 25-year average term of existing contracts. CHPs can reinvest these savings into social programmes and will require less upfront and ongoing funding from the Crown to compete to build new social and affordable housing places.

“For new CHP social housing, the Government is expected to save $115k-$120k per house over the life of a 25-year IRRS contract^[1]. This means we can do more to help people in need with the same amount of funding. 

“For example, in Budget 2024, $140m funded 1,500 CHP social housing places – but with 1% cheaper borrowing rates, that same amount could fund 1,767 places, an 18% increase of 267 houses.

“Getting value for every taxpayer dollar we spend is a core priority for this Government, so it’s encouraging to see that the Crown’s loan to CHFA is resulting in more efficient social housing delivery and better value for taxpayers.”

^[1] Assumes a 1% in interest rate saving over the full term of the contract.

Note to editor:

The Community Housing Funding Agency (CHFA) brings together philanthropists, fund managers, Government funding and leading charities to tackle New Zealand’s social housing challenges.

CHFA was launched by Community Finance in 2024 and aggregates the finance requirements for CHPs around New Zealand, unlocking lower cost finance at scale to support the delivery of social housing. It is the largest lender to CHPs in New Zealand.

Source: New Zealand Police

Police can confirm that one person has died following a two-vehicle crash on East Taieri-Allanton Road/SH1 at around 1:30pm yesterday.

One other person sustained moderate injuries.

The Serious Crash Unit attended, and the road has now reopened.

ENDS

Issued by the Police Media Centre.

Source: New Zealand Police

Omahu Road, Hastings, is closed following a serious incident that has left one person critically injured and two others with serious injuries.

Emergency services were notified of the incident about 2:20am and the road was closed shortly afterwards.

Motorists should expect delays and take alternative routes.

The road is expected to remain closed until later today.

Police are making enquiries.

ENDS

Issued by the Police Media Centre.

Source: New Zealand Police

Police are still urgently appealing for sightings of 39-year-old Aydan, who has now not been seen for three weeks.

Aydan was last seen in Chartwell in the early hours Sunday 17 August in Snell Drive, believed to be driving his 2016 Grey Mazda ute, registration QYA209.

Detective Sergeant Jonathan Carter says he has not been heard from since, and his family are desperate to find out what has happened to him.

“It’s not like Aydan to be out of contact this long, and we know they’re increasingly worried as time goes by.

“Over the past few weeks, Police have followed up numerous leads and worked through any information provided by the public.

“We’re grateful to everyone who has shared information so far, but sadly we still have not been able to locate Aydan.”

One aspect currently being considered is that Aydan may have parked up in a rural or bush area, and Police want to appeal to the wider Waikato/Bay of Plenty region for any sightings of him or his vehicle.

“Maybe you’ve gone hunting and seen a vehicle parked up and not thought much of it, and then returned another time and it’s still there. We’re looking for anything out of the ordinary like that.

“If you have noticed a Grey Mazda ute somewhere across the region and think something might not be quite right, we would like to hear from you.”

If you have any information, please contact Police via 105, either over the phone or online, referencing file number 250819/5160.

ENDS

Issued by the Police Media Centre.

Source: New Zealand Police

Media are invited to attend a stand up with Detective Senior Sergeant Martin Friend in relation to ongoing appeals to locate missing 25-year-old woman Te Anihana Pomana.

Police will hold the stand up later this morning at the Auckland Central Police Base on Federal Street.

WHO:
Detective Senior Sergeant Friend will speak to media and take questions.
Te Anihana’s mother, Catherine Anderson, will also be present.

WHAT:
Te Anihana’s mother will read a message, but has indicated she doesn’t wish to take questions.
Following the stand up, flyers are being distributed to local businesses which media are able to capture.

WHERE:
Auckland Central Police Base, located at 210 Federal Street.

WHEN:
The stand-up will begin at 10.30am, please arrive beforehand to allow time to set up.

RSVP:
Media are asked to RSVP to media@police.govt.nz

ENDS
 

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology

2 minutes ago

A shared goal of starting a whānau business has brought two uncles and their niece to EIT, where they are training to become electricians.

Maihi Joe, 38, his younger brother Whakawhitira Joe, 28, and their niece Michelle Robinson, 17 (Ngāti Pāhauwera, Ngāti Porou and Ngāti Kahu) recently completed the New Zealand Certificate in Electrical Pre-Trade (Level 3). Their next step is to begin apprenticeships, where they’ll work toward becoming fully qualified electricians through a combination of on-the-job experience and off-job training.

Their decision to enrol followed conversations with another brother, now a qualified electrician and graduate of the same programme, who plans to join them in the whānau business. 

“We just thought it made sense to go through it together and build something as a whānau,” Maihi said.

All three students were supported by the Māori and Pasifika Trades Training scholarship, Te Ara o Tākitimu. The initiative removes financial barriers for students by covering their course fees and providing travel allowances and a $500 ‘Mahi Kickstart’ payment to support their transition into work. Scholarship recipients are also supported by a dedicated team, including a success navigator and work broker, throughout their study.

Michelle, the youngest in the group, began her electrical training while still in high school through EIT’s Trades Academy. “That really gave me a head start,” she said. “Now I’m studying alongside my uncles, which has been a great experience.”

She said having other women in the class also made a difference. “It was nice having other girls in the class. It made the environment feel more balanced.”

Whakawhitira came into the programme with no prior experience in the field. “I didn’t know anything about it when I started, but it’s been good,” he said. “It’s hands-on, and you learn a lot.”

Maihi, who returned to study after more than 20 years in the workforce, had worked for seven years managing a department at Tumu Timbers. He said it was time for a change, and the transition into study was smoother than expected.

“It’s my first time doing tertiary study, and I’ve really enjoyed it. The way the course is set up just works. It made it easier to get back into learning. I actually thrived in it.”

The New Zealand Certificate in Electrical Pre-Trade  Level 3 course offers a balance of theory and practice, which provides a solid foundation in both areas. “We’d learn the theory, then apply it straight away in the practical sessions,” Maihi said.

Now preparing to begin their apprenticeships, the trio are focused on setting up a reliable business that reflects their values.

“Being a homeowner myself, I know how hard it is to find an electrician when you need one and to know what the cost will be,” Maihi said.

“We want to change that. We want to be the kind of electricians people can count on.”

EIT Te Ara o Tākitimu Kaiwhakarite Mahi (Work Broker) Claire Hodson said Maihi, Whakawhitira and  Michelle stood as shining examples, not only to their fellow scholarship recipients but to their classmates as a whole.

“While these outstanding ākonga each forged their own unique path, it was a privilege to have them as part of our wider Te Ara o Tākitimu kaupapa. We look forward to drawing on their expertise, work ethic, and professionalism to inspire and uplift future recipients of the scholarship.”

Source: New Zealand Police

Several homes in South Nelson have been evacuated this evening, after Police were notified earlier of a suspicious item at a Waimea Road address.

Police were called about 5.20pm and advised of the item being left at a property and an alleged threat being made.

A cordon has been established and a New Zealand Defence Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal team has been called to assess the item.

A number of homes in the area, including a section of Waimea Road and Renwick Place, have been evacuated as a precaution.

Anyone affected can now go to Victory Community Centre at 2 Totara Street, Nelson South, Nelson, which has been set up as a temporary evacuation centre.

We appreciate people’s patience as we work to ensure everyone is safe.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Police

A section of Waimea Road has been closed after a report of a suspicious item being located at an address this afternoon.

Police were called about 5.20pm notifying them of the item and an alleged threat being made.

A cordon has been established as a precaution while the nature of the item is established.

Diversions are in place at the intersection of Waimea Road and Van Dieman Street, and Waimea Road and Bronte Street.

Please take an alternate route, and avoid the area if possible.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre