Source: New Zealand Police
A person has died following a crash on State Highway 5, Tarawera earlier this week.
The person was critically injured in the crash on 28 May and was airlifted to hospital.
Sadly they passed away in hospital on 31 May.
Police extend our sympathies to their family and loved ones.
Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.
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Issued by Police Media Centre.
Source: New Zealand Police
A female has died in hospital following a crash in Port Waikato on Friday.
Emergency services were called to Tuakau Bridge-Port Waikato Road about 6:10pm on 30 May to reports of a single vehicle rolling.
Three occupants of the vehicle were taken to hospital – two by ambulance, who were moderately and seriously injured respectively, and another by helicopter who was critically injured.
The critically injured female died in hospital yesterday [Saturday].
The Serious Crash Unit attended, and the circumstances of the crash remain under investigation.
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Issued by the Police Media Centre
Source: New Zealand Government
A Government directive to take firmer action against abusive Kāinga Ora tenants has led to consequences for threatening and abusive behaviour, and improved tenant behaviour as a result, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says.
In March 2024, Ministers instructed Kāinga Ora to end its Sustaining Tenancies Framework, which had allowed tenants to stay living in a Kāinga Ora home no matter how abusive or disruptive their behaviour.
“Living in a taxpayer-funded social house is a privilege. The vast majority of social housing tenants are respectful of their home and courteous to their neighbours, but unfortunately they are let down by a small minority who threaten and abuse their neighbours or wilfully damage their home. Our Government campaigned on focussing in on these unruly tenants, and new data shows our approach is leading to improved behaviour,” Mr Potaka says.
“Over the past 10 months, 63 tenancies have been terminated for abusive, threatening, or persistent disruptive behaviour. This compares to 11 tenancies being ended for disruptive behaviour in the previous financial year, and only two in the financial year before that under the previous Government.
“Formal warnings for tenants whose behaviour is putting their tenancy at risk have increased by more than 600 per cent compared to the previous financial year, with 1,463 being issued in 2024/25 so far.
“Around 80 per cent of warnings – known as section 55a notices – have been first notices and 18 per cent were second notices. Third notices, which can trigger the end of a tenancy, made up just two per cent of warnings.
“I’m also pleased to see that the time taken to address complaints to Kāinga Ora about tenant behaviour has reduced significantly. In January 2024 it took an average of 60 days to take action in response to a complaint. In April 2025 it had reduced to less than 12 days.
“This data shows that the vast majority of disruptive tenants are taking the notices seriously and changing their behaviour to prevent receiving a second or third notice. And where they don’t change their behaviour, we’re no longer putting up with it.
“There are whānau who have been living in angst from their neighbours abusing the privilege of a taxpayer funded home, so we’ve taken swift action to get on top of it.
“The Government is taking an approach that ultimately benefits everyone involved, by reducing negative behaviour through formal warnings and following through with real consequences in the rare circumstances that behaviour doesn’t improve.
“I thank Kāinga Ora staff for their work to improve tenant behaviour, particularly noting that in doing so they have to navigate some very challenging situations. We look forward to further improvements in this space.”
Source: New Zealand Police
A man has died and four others are injured after a crash on State Highway 16, Pt Chevalier last night.
Police became aware of a car on its roof in the citybound lanes shortly after 11:05pm.
One person had been ejected from the vehicle and another was trapped inside it, who was found to be deceased.
Four people were taken to hospital, two in a serious condition and two in moderate condition.
The Serious Crash Unit attended the scene, and the motorway was reopened around 3:20am.
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Issued by the Police Media Centre
Source: New Zealand Police
To be attributed to Detective Senior Sergeant Megan Goldie:
A 19-year-old man has been charged after allegedly indecently exposing himself to a woman on Stottholm Road near Green Bay High School on the afternoon of 27 May.
The man was arrested today, following the execution of a search warrant. He will appear in the Waitakere District Court on 3 June.
Police are continuing to investigate a suspicious approach on Atkinson Road in Titirangi on the morning of 28 May, to determine if it was linked to the Stottholm Road incident.
We would like to hear from anyone who may have information which could assist our enquiries. If you can help, please update us online now or call 105.
Please use the reference number 250528/1736.
Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
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Issued by Police Media Centre.
Source: New Zealand Police
To be attributed to Detective Senior Sergeant Megan Goldie:
A 19-year-old man has been charged after allegedly indecently exposing himself to a woman on Stottholm Road near Green Bay High School on the afternoon of 27 May.
The man was arrested today, following the execution of a search warrant. He will appear in the Waitakere District Court on 3 June.
Police are continuing to investigate a suspicious approach on Atkinson Road in Titirangi on the morning of 28 May, to determine if it was linked to the Stottholm Road incident.
We would like to hear from anyone who may have information which could assist our enquiries. If you can help, please update us online now or call 105.
Please use the reference number 250528/1736.
Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
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Issued by Police Media Centre.
Source: New Zealand Police
A man has died after a vehicle he was in left the road and rolled into a paddock at Karamu, Waipa.
Emergency services were called at around 7:40am to the single vehicle crash on Waikoha Road.
The Serious Crash Unit attended, and the circumstances are being investigated.
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Issued by the Police Media Centre.
Source: New Zealand Police
One person has died following a serious crash in Northland this morning.
At around midnight emergency services were called to a two-vehicle crash on State Highway 1, near Waiomio, south of Kawakawa.
Sadly, one person died at the scene. Our thoughts are with their family at this difficult time.
The Serious Crash Unit has conducted a scene examination and the road is now open.
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Issued by the Police Media Centre.
Source: New Zealand Police
Attributable to Inspector Ash Gurney, Manawatū Area Prevention Manager:
Ten people were arrested during a large anti-social road user event in the Levin and Palmerston North areas overnight, which saw five members of the public and two Police officers injured.
Police were out on the streets overnight with plans in place to keep the gathering in check, including air support from the Police Eagle helicopter, however faced physical attacks on the ground from those present.
A crowd of around 1000 people gathered in Levin late last night, many performing burnouts and other driving offences.
Fireworks, physical aggression, and a vehicle were all used against Police who were attempting to break up the gathering. Two Police officers received minor injuries from the fireworks that did not require hospitalisation.
Five people were arrested at this location and will face Levin District Court in coming days, on disorderly behaviour and driving charges.
The large group then moved to the State Highway 57/Tavistock Road intersection, where Police were again confronted with more unruly behaviour, including a number of burnouts.
A pedestrian bystander was hit by a car doing a burnout. People and vehicles blocking the roads delayed an ambulance getting to this person, forcing Police to employ tactical options – including deploying sponge rounds to disperse the crowd- to allow it through.
During this period, several Police vehicle were damaged and had tyres slashed.
Police moved this crowd on, which then moved to the intersection of State Highway 56 and Tiakitahuna Road.
Further burnouts and unsafe driving took place, and four bystanders – aged 16-20 years old – were hit by cars. One female had both of her legs run over. The group were taken to Palmerston North Hospital for treatment for their injuries.
The Police Eagle helicopter assisted staff on the ground in tracking one of the drivers who hit the bystanders. The 18-year-old man was taken into custody after a lengthy foot pursuit by officers, and he is due in Levin District Court on Tuesday on a range of serious charges.
Diesel was poured on an intersection in Palmerston North city where the group set up again around 2am – numbers were estimated at around 200 by this stage. The crowd dispersed shortly after the diesel was set alight.
Several other instances of single vehicles seen doing skids and burnouts in the Levin area were identified by officers over the next hour or so, with the Police Eagle helicopter proving invaluable in giving officers on the ground relevant information.
“The escalation in the level of violence committed against officers at these events is incredibly reckless and will not be tolerated,” Inspector Gurney says.
“The fact that members of the public were injured should send a strong warning to people intending to take part or observe – this is dangerous and stupid behaviour which can very easily result in multiple serious injuries or even death.
“On this occasion, given the size and unruly nature of the crowds involved, it is fortunate no other people were seriously hurt or worse, and that no Police officers were seriously injured,” Inspector Gurney says.
Police intend to hold everyone identified as having committed an offence to account, with the Eagle helicopter proving vital in helping gather relevant information to help us follow up.
Officers will have staff deployed from Central District and from Wellington ready to respond to any potential further activity this weekend.
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Issued by the Police Media Centre
Source: New Zealand Government
New Zealand and India have discussed their enhanced relationship across a broad range of domains, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.
“New Zealand and India have agreed that we can and should be doing more together,” Mr Peters says.
“Both countries have worked hard over the last 18 months to bring energy, focus and deeper practical cooperation to the relationship.”
While in New Delhi, Mr Peters held official talks and had a working dinner with India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.
“This has been an excellent opportunity to take stock of the progress we have made over the past year-and-a-half, while also discussing the pressing regional and global challenges our countries face,” Mr Peters says.
“New Zealand and India have a shared interest in promoting a stable, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. My discussions with Minister Jaishankar and have been invaluable in understanding Indian perspectives on recent events and charting our course for enhanced bilateral cooperation.”
Mr Peters noted that, over the past 18 months, New Zealand and India had made concrete steps towards closer engagement across a wide range of domains, including defence and security, trade and economic cooperation, science and technology and sport.
While in New Delhi, Mr Peters also had meetings with the President of the Bharatiya Janata Party, JP Nadda, and the Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi; and delivered a speech about New Zealand’s strengthening ties with South and South East Asia under the Foreign Policy Reset.
His visit to India concluded a four-country tour which also included trips to Australia, Sri Lanka and Nepal.
“New Zealand’s strategic and economic interests are inextricably tied to the Indo-Pacific, including South Asia. It is crucial that we continue to invest in and strengthen our relationships here,” Mr Peters says.
“This week has also highlighted the quality of our relationships in South Asia, characterised by rich people-to-people connections, a common desire to do more together, and shared perspectives on the challenges facing our region.”
During the first half of this Parliamentary term (from December 2023 to May 2025), Mr Peters has visited 45 countries and spent 154 days overseas on official visits.
Mr Peters returns to New Zealand later today (31 May).