Source: New Zealand Police
Lindis Pass Road at Omarama is blocked following a two-vehicle crash.
Emergency services were advised of the crash, at the intersection with Short Cut Road, about 10am.
While there were fortunately only minor injuries, the road remains blocked for now and motorists are advised to avoid travelling this route for now if able, and to expect delays.
ENDS
Source: NZ Department of Conservation
Date: 23 December 2025
Freshwater pests can be accidentally introduced to a new lake or river on wet fishing equipment, lifejackets, boats, kayaks, boots, togs and in drink bottles.
Nicki Atkinson, Freshwater Ecosystems and Threats Manager at DOC, says the Check, Clean, Dry method is proven to stop the spread of freshwater pests such as didymo and invasive clams.
“It’s more important than ever to be scrupulous about your biosecurity this summer. In November we had a surprise new infestation of invasive (gold) clams in New Plymouth – showing just how easily they can be spread.”
The affected New Plymouth lake is now closed and has been partially drained and assessed.
In Waikato, the region where the invasive clams were first found, a controlled area notice requires water users to follow the Check, Clean, Dry method. The notice also stipulates boats with ballast tanks or bags that have been used in the controlled area cannot be used in any other waterway.
“We’re calling on people to do the right thing by always following Check, Clean, Dry if they’re moving between waterways – or even better, limiting their recreation to just one place. It’s a positive way people can protect our beautiful lakes and rivers while out naturing this summer.”
Lindavia is another nasty organism that can harm our fresh waterways. It’s an algae that causes sticky, mucus-like ‘lake snow’. Lindavia has already hitched a ride to Lake Rotoroa and Lake Rotoiti in Nelson Lakes National Park.
“It’s important people don’t spread it to other places if they swim or use boats on these lakes. We’ve put up signage and biosecurity cleaning stations for trampers to help protect the alpine lakes they pass on their journeys.”
“Like for invasive clams, there are no known control or eradication methods for lindavia, so preventing its spread is a priority.”
If you think you’ve seen invasive clams, note the location and take a photo if possible. Report it to Biosecurity New Zealand either on 0800 80 99 66, or complete their online reporting form
Check: Before you leave a waterway, remove any plant material you can see, and leave it on the bank. If you find some later, put it in the rubbish – don’t wash it down the drain.
Clean: Spray or soak all items with a cleaning mix. The mix is different for the North and South Islands. For details, see Biosecurity New Zealand’s Check, Clean, Dry resources.
Dry: Once your gear is completely dry to the touch, leave it to dry for another 48 hours before using it again.
Nature isn’t scenery. Nature is a society that we rely on for everything, every day. It’s behind our identity and our way of life.
For media enquiries contact:
Email: media@doc.govt.nz
Source: New Zealand Police
Lumsden Police are sticking it to motorists in the area, by teaming up with local business owners to help get the road safety speed message out – through stickers.
“Nearly one million visitors travel through Lumsden, and other areas, on State Highway 6, when traveling from Queenstown into Fiordland and Milford Sound,” says Senior Sergeant Peter Graham, Western Southland Area Response Manager.
“Most of our tourist drivers will only visit for one day and won’t realise they are facing one of New Zealand’s most difficult roads to navigate.
“We teamed up with an iconic local tourist stop: The Coffee Bomb, which is a roadside caravan food and beverage shop in Garston.
“The Coffee Bomb is known for its great coffee – which will now be served with a small Police sticker on the cup which reads: ‘Welcome to Western Southland. Max speed 100, drive safely’.
“Nearly 500 drivers stop at The Coffee Bomb per day – this is just a small thing Police can do to interact with and inform a driver that we wouldn’t normally have the chance to,” Senior Sergeant Graham says.
Police remind the public that the speed limit is just that – it’s not a target. If the conditions are bad, then slow down, so you have time to react if something happens in front of you.
“I would like to thank the Lumsden Police officers for their ongoing commitment and efforts in the road safety space. As well as The Coffee Bomb owner operators, retired Constable Will and his wife Aroha for their support in helping keep commuters safe on our roads,” he says.
Senior Sergeant Graham says Police will continue to look for more ways to spread our road safety messaging and awareness, and he encourages the public to report any form of dangerous driving to Police immediately, with as much information as safely possible.
Please call 111 if it is happening now, or report other matters via 105.
ENDS
Issued by the Police Media Centre
Source: NZ Department of Conservation
Did you forget to put your bird obsessed neighbours on the Christmas shopping list?
Need a last-minute gift idea for the naturing hero in your life?
Don’t panic! Give them something that will also benefit nature this year. Here’s 6 meaningful gift ideas for your fellow nature lover…
You can keep the spade and garden gloves in the shed this year. Trees That Count have made it as easy as possible to plant a native tree with just a few clicks on their website AND for just $10 a tree!
Send the gift that counts this Christmas: treesthatcount.co.nz/gift
Of course if you want to get your hands dirty and attract birds to your own garden or backyard, check out this helpful list of native plants on our website – most of them can be picked up from your local garden store. Remember to check if they’re native to your local area by using a regional planting guide.
This is the ultimate gift for those wanting to protect our native species in their garden this Christmas. Whether they’re new to backyard trapping or a veteran, there’s something for everyone. You can find a range of traps at your local hardware store or on the Predator Free Trust website: shop.predatorfreenz.org
If you think they’d prefer to avoid the task of handling dead rodents, you can always donate online and Give A Trap to a community or conservation project.
If you live close to a mainland island, nature sanctuary or wildlife park you could purchase an annual pass to support their conservation work. Sanctuaries and mainland islands provide valuable, predator-free spaces for our native species to survive and thrive.
Lots of their work is done by volunteers so supporting them with a donation or buying an annual pass is a great way to give back. It also provides a great way to reconnect with nature. Find out more.
DOC’s Campsite Pass gives you access to our conservation campsites around New Zealand, including bookable and non-bookable campsites (note that some exclusions apply). The pass offers excellent value for your camping adventures. Purchase online or at a DOC visitor centre when planning your next holiday.
If your gift-ee prefers a more rugged outdoors trip, the Backcountry Hut Pass is a great gift idea. The pass gives access to many serviced and standard huts around Aotearoa with a few exceptions. If they are likely to have multiple hut stays within a 6 or 12 month period, a Backcountry Hut Pass is a great cost-saver.
Why not make a donation in their name to one of their favourite conservation projects or programmes.
DOC manages a vast range of conservation programmes, but much of our work is done in partnership with communities and groups who work with us. We have information on how you can donate to them on our website: www.doc.govt.nz/get-involved/donate-to-nature/
The New Zealand Nature Fund is a charitable trust raising funds for the effective protection and restoration of Aotearoa New Zealand’s biodiversity – at scale, in the wild, for generations to come. Find out more.
There’s nothing quite like the sense of completion after knocking off a DIY project over summer. So how about choosing an activity that will provides hours of entertainment and will benefit nature. You can download the instructions for building a wētā hotel or lizard shelter on our website. Then simply head to the hardware store to pick up the necessary bits and you’re on your way.
We hope this has provided some inspiration for those last-minute Christmas gifts for the nature-nerds in your life. We wish you all a Merry Christmas, happy holiday season and marvellous New Year.
Source: New Zealand Police
Police can now release the name of the man who died following a motorcycle crash in Kaitaia on 12 December.
He was Marcus Tepania, 31, of Kaitaia.
Our thoughts are with his friends and whānau at this time.
Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash remain ongoing.
ENDS.
Holly McKay/NZ Police
Source: New Zealand Government
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says the conclusion of an India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement is a landmark moment for New Zealand.
“I am delighted that, just nine months after Prime Minister Modi and I launched negotiations on this deal during my visit to India, Trade Minister Todd McClay and his counterpart Piyush Goyal have delivered.
“We made a campaign commitment to New Zealanders to secure a Free Trade Agreement with India in our first term, and our countries have pursued this with determination. This is about our plan to fix the basics and build the future.
“This is an incredibly exciting opportunity for New Zealand exporters, with tariffs immediately removed on more than half of New Zealand’s current exports to India from day one. The gains are wide-ranging and significant.
“India is the world’s most populous country and is the fastest-growing big economy – and that creates opportunities for jobs for Kiwis, exports and growth.
“Since the election, Todd McClay has visited India seven times. The Foreign Minister has visited India twice. Earlier this year, I led New Zealand’s largest-ever trade mission to India. And New Zealand has hosted India’s President and two Ministerial visits from India.
“The result is a high-quality trade agreement with a trusted partner that will deliver deep and lasting benefits for New Zealand.
“I have just spoken to Prime Minister Modi, who shares our excitement to further cement the strong relationship between New Zealand and India,” says Mr Luxon.
Source: New Zealand Government
New Zealand and India have concluded a Free Trade Agreement, offering New Zealanders unprecedented access to 1.4 billion Indian consumers, Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay announced today.
This historic Agreement eliminates and reduces tariffs on 95 per cent of New Zealand’s exports – among the highest of any Indian FTA – with almost 57 per cent being duty-free from day one, increasing to 82 per cent when fully implemented, with the remaining 13 per cent subject to sharp tariff cuts.
It puts New Zealand exporters on an equal or better footing to our competitors across a range of sectors and opens the door to India’s rapidly expanding middle class.
Negotiations began on 21 March and concluded after nine months of intensive effort.
“This once-in-a-generation Agreement creates opportunities New Zealand exporters have never had in India. This deal is in New Zealand’s best interest and will deliver thousands of jobs and billions in additional exports,” Mr McClay says.
“The Indian economy is forecast to grow to NZ$12 trillion by 2030. The India-NZ Free Trade Agreement unleashes huge potential for our world-class exporters to the world’s largest country and will significantly accelerate progress towards New Zealand’s ambitious goal of doubling the value of exports over 10 years.”
Key outcomes for New Zealand include:
Tariff elimination or reduction on 95 per cent of our exports.
Duty-free access on almost 57 per cent of New Zealand’s exports from day one, increasing to 82 per cent when fully implemented, with the remaining 13 per cent being subject to sharp tariff cuts.
Immediate tariff elimination on sheep meat, wool, coal and over 95 per cent of forestry and wood exports.
Duty-free access on most seafood exports, including mussels and salmon, over seven years.
Duty-free access on most iron, steel and scrap aluminium, over 10 years or less.
Duty-free access for most industrial products, over five to 10 years
50 per cent tariff cut for large quota of apples – nearly double recent average exports.
Duty-free access for kiwifruit within a quota almost four times our recent average exports, and tariff halved for exports outside of quota.
Duty-free access for cherries, avocados, persimmons and blueberries, over 10 years.
Tariffs on wine reduced from 150 per cent to either 25 or 50 per cent (depending on the value of the wine) over 10 years plus Most Favoured Nations (MFN) commitment.
Tariffs on mānuka honey cut from 66 per cent to 16.5 per cent over five years.
MFN status and liberalisation across services exports.
Duty-free access for dairy and other food ingredients for re-export from day one.
Duty-free access for bulk infant formula and other high-value dairy preparations over seven years.
50 percent tariff cut for high value milk albumins within a NZ-specific quota equal to current export volumes.
“In a world-first New Zealand will have duty-free access for a large kiwifruit quota – nearly four times our current exports – with a 50 per cent tariff applying outside quota. For the first time in an FTA, India has agreed preferential market access for apples and mānuka honey,” Mr McClay says.
“The FTA has broad services coverage and builds significantly on India’s WTO commitments with a focus on financial services, e-payments and FinTech, and includes an MFN clause to future-proof our services trade.
“To protect specialist and iconic New Zealand product names in each other’s markets, we have agreed to establish Geographical Indication rules comparable to those we have with the EU.
“This FTA future-proofs New Zealand’s dairy access by offering a right to negotiate should India give better access to comparable countries, by triggering an automatic consultation process to consult and upgrade.”
“New Zealand exporters will enjoy duty-free access for dairy and other food ingredients for re-export through the FTA, opening the door to greater collaboration and processing, and offer access to India’s growing number of FTA partners through a dedicated fast-track mechanism,” Mr McClay says.
“To better provide the skills to grow the New Zealand economy the Agreement establishes a process for up to an average of 1,667 skilled 3-year work visas per year. These temporary visas will focus on priority jobs where New Zealand has skills shortages, including doctors, nurses, teachers, ICT and engineering and are non-renewable.
“Sectors will be drawn from the New Zealand skills shortage ‘Green List’ with all immigration screening and qualification/experience requirements remaining unaltered. We have retained the ability to change the Green List to match skills shortages in the economy.
“In addition, to ensure our tourism and rural sectors have the workers they need we have aligned our Working Holiday Scheme with Australia’s Indian FTA, providing up to 1,000 places each year,” Mr McClay says.
The Agreement includes a Treaty of Waitangi clause allowing us to meet Treaty obligations, as well as Chapters on Customs Facilitation and Clearance, Technical Barriers to Trade, Sanitary and Phyto-Sanitary Standards, Culture, Trade and Traditional Knowledge, Economic Cooperation, Trade and Sustainable Development.
“We’ve also agreed to review the FTA one year after entry into force, which provides a mechanism to pursue further improvements into the future,” Mr McClay says.
Mr McClay says this is a good deal that delivers for every New Zealander.
“Trade grows the economy and creates jobs – the NZ India Free Trade Agreement is about future-proofing opportunities for our exporters and allowing Kiwi companies to continue to punch above their weight on the world stage.”
New Zealand and India expect the Agreement to be signed in the first half of next year.
For more information go to: www.mfat.govt.nz/nz-india-fta.
Source: New Zealand Police
The Henderson Beat Team had a list, they checked it twice, finding out two shoplifters were not nice.
The tale unfolded at a Henderson supermarket on Sunday afternoon.
Sergeant Rachael England says the team were patrolling when supermarket workers alerted them to offending taking place.
“Two women allegedly stole a large number of groceries from the store in their trolley,” she says.
“Our team arrested the pair a short distance from the store.”
While the women had a receipt for just under $160 in goods, a pile of groceries in their vehicle’s boot required further inspection.
“They had allegedly tried to steal just shy of $1000 in groceries, including luxury cat food, meats and cheeses,” Sergeant England says.
Both women, aged 36 and 59, have been charged with shoplifting ($500-$1000).
The incident on Sunday afternoon rounded up to the Henderson Beat Team’s 116th arrest since launching in September.
Sergeant England say the team has bedded into the community over the past three months.
“Our team continues to receive a warm reception from business owners and community members on their patrols.
“We’ve built great relationships with those businesses and security teams at The Boundary and WestCity, meaning we’re responding quickly to calls for service.”
The women charged will appear in the Waitākere District Court on Christmas Eve.
ENDS.
Jarred Williamson/NZ Police
Source: New Zealand Transport Agency
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) is urging the owners of Suzuki Fronx vehicles in New Zealand not to carry passengers in the rear seats of the vehicles following the recent failure of a rear safety belt mechanism in a laboratory crash test carried out by the Australasian New Car Assessment Programme (ANCAP).
The Fronx has received a one-star safety rating from ANCAP based on its poor performance in the recent crash test. While the seatbelt failure is serious, the low ANCAP rating reflects the vehicle’s poor performance across all aspects of ANCAP’s testing.
ANCAP safety ratings – Suzuki Fronx(external link)
The failure of this safety-critical component in an ANCAP crash test is a significant concern to NZTA as New Zealand’s vehicle safety regulator, as a similar failure in an on-road crash could potentially result in serious injury or death for rear seat passengers.
There are currently 1,115 Fronx vehicles registered for use on New Zealand roads.
NZTA officials have met with Suzuki NZ to encourage the company to act with urgency to address the issue, including considering enacting a manufacturer’s recall. Whether further regulatory action is required will depend on what steps Suzuki takes to address the issue.
NZTA is advised that Suzuki NZ has stopped sales of the Suzuki Fronx in New Zealand and is contacting vehicle owners from today to provide them with further information, including advice that passengers do not travel in the rear seats at this time.
NZTA encourages all Suzuki Fronx owners to engage with Suzuki NZ, including on what solutions Suzuki NZ can offer to owners who require the use of rear seats for upcoming travel.
NZTA urges Fronx owners in New Zealand who have not been contacted by Suzuki NZ to contact the company or their local dealer urgently. Customers can contact Suzuki NZ by email at enquiry@suzuki.co.nz, or by phone on 0800 929 394.
Source: New Zealand Police
A boatie was lucky to survive after being caught out on a fishing expedition on Lake Taupō – prompting a warning from Police and local iwi.
Police were alerted around 6:45pm yesterday, within minutes of Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) receiving initial reports of a boat fire on Lake Taupō, seen by residents of Kinloch.
FENZ from Kinloch arrived to find fully-engulfed wreckage, and then discovered that the sole occupant of the boat was missing.
A marine search and rescue operation commenced, with helicopters, Coastguard Lake Taupō and the Harbour Master deployed to search for the missing boatie.
A helicopter crew located the boatie about one kilometre from the scene; he had been swimming in the water for over an hour without a lifejacket. A lifering was dropped to him, and he was subsequently retrieved by another vessel before being transferred onto Coastguard’s Taupō Rescue vessel. Coastguard volunteers then transported him back to Kinloch, where he was treated for minor injuries.
Senior Constable Barry Shepherd said the incident could have ended very differently.
“Things can change in a heartbeat. It’s extremely important people are fully prepared when they enjoy water activities.
“We always recommend people wear their life jacket at all times, take two forms of communication, tell someone where you’re going and when to expect you back on shore.
“People going out on the water alone should also take extra care,” says Senior Constable Shepherd.
Taupō Police also remind boaties that they are to follow the Lake Taupō Navigation Safety Bylaw 2020.
Senior Constable Shepherd says over the last few years, people have been shirking their responsibilities like letting people under 15 drive boats, exceeding speed limits and not wearing life jackets.
Any breach of the bylaws is likely to result in enforcement action.
“Some respect and responsibility goes a long way to ensure everyone gets home safely,” he says.
Always call 111 in an emergency.
Tuwharetoa Māori Trust Board Chief Executive Officer Rakeipoho Taiaroa has praised emergency responders, and says the iwi are thankful the boatie was found in time.
However, Mr Taiaroa is encouraging all lake users to take care this summer.
“It’s a beautiful time of the year to enjoy our lake but we want people to keep in mind that Lake Taupō is a very dynamic environment and conditions can change quickly,” he says.
“We ask that those using the lake to ensure their boats and safety equipment are ready for all conditions – it’s better to be prepared and safe, than sorry.
“Everyone has to take responsibility for their own actions over this busy summer period, because one mistake can lead to a bad outcome. We’re thankful this incident ended with the boatie being found in time,” says Mr Taiaroa.
ENDS
