Source: New Zealand Police
Manawatū Area Commander Inspector Ross Grantham will speak with media this afternoon about the fatal house fire incident at the weekend.
A stand-up will be held at 2.30pm in Palmerston North.
Media are asked to RSVP to media@police.govt.nz, and further details will be provided.
ENDS
Issued by the Police Media Centre
Source: New Zealand Police
Police on the beat have launched into action, nabbing a group of alleged burglars who broke into a convenience store in the city late last night.
Just before 11.30pm, Police received a report of a break in at the shop on the corner of Karangahape Road and Day Street.
Acting Inspector Dave Plunkett, Auckland Central Area Prevention Manager, says the alleged offenders smashed the front doors before taking a number of items including cigarettes and cash.
“Police Camera Operators quickly reviewed footage and managed to track a person matching the description provided heading down Pitt Street to the corner of Hopetoun Street.
“The man has attempted to run from officers but was quickly taken into custody near the motorway.”
Acting Inspector Plunkett says another two people were also arrested nearby.
“This is another good example of frontline Police resources working together to keep the city safe and respond to any incidents that may occur.
“A search of the area by officers has also located the stolen items, which have since been returned to the owner.”
Two men, aged 39 and 37, and a 34-year-old woman will appear in Auckland District Court today charged with burglary.
ENDS.
Holly McKay/NZ Police
Source: New Zealand Police
Police are appealing for information from the public following a serious assault in Edendale on the weekend.
At around 10.55pm on Saturday (15 November), a woman knocked on the victim’s door, saying she had a flat tyre and needed help.
The victim – a man in his 50s – walked with the woman to the corner of Melvin Street and Turner Street, where he was accosted by a man and assaulted.
During the assault, the offender also attempted to restrain the victim by tying his hands behind his back.
The victim suffered serious injuries in the assault, including a fractured eye socket and broken nose.
Enquiries are under way to establish the identity of the man and woman involved in this incident and we’re hoping Edendale residents can help.
Following the assault, the victim saw an SUV leaving the area at speed, and we believe it is likely the man and woman were in this SUV.
To help us locate this vehicle, we would like to hear from any residents who have street-facing security cameras on Turner Street, Melvin Street, Seawood Road or Ferry Road, and who may have captured footage of the vehicle on Saturday night.
We would also like to speak to anyone who saw an SUV in the Edendale township between 10pm and midnight, or anyone with other information which could assist our enquiries.
If you can help, please contact Police via 105, quoting file number 251116/4977. Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre.
Source: New Zealand Police
A search for a missing fisherman off the coast of Pataua South has resumed this morning, with assistance from the Royal New Zealand Navy.
Police, including the National Dive Squad, Search and Rescue crews and the Royal New Zealand Navy headed back out on the water earlier this morning.
The man was one of two people onboard a boat that was reported overdue on Friday night.
Detective Sergeant Paul Overton says the 17-foot runabout was meant to return at 7pm on Friday, and the alarm was raised at 9pm.
“On Saturday morning the boat was found drifting with no-one aboard, and shortly after a body of one of the two fishermen was found.
“This is a really tough time for the families of those fisherman, and for our community as a whole.”
Detective Sergeant Overton says search crews remain focused on bringing the missing man home to his whānau.
“A large-scale search by sea and air is ongoing, along with searches of the shoreline.
“The Royal New Zealand Navy has also kindly offered to assist in the search today, and we are grateful to have their expertise to assist.
“I would also like to like extend my thanks to all the other agencies involved in the search, as well as those members of the public who have been nothing short of generous with their time and support.”
Police continue to ask the public to contact us on 111 if you see anything unusual in the water.
ENDS.
Holly McKay/NZ Police
Source: NZ Department of Conservation
Date: 17 November 2025
Peter is part of the Mount Somers Walkway Society, founded around 40 years ago. The volunteer group of mainly retired farmers is described as the ‘third arm’ of DOC, spending hundreds of hours looking after the Mount Somers tracks and biodiversity. They’ve just help build a new zigzag walk on the very popular Woolshed Creek Track.
DOC Geraldine Operations Manager Tony Preston says Peter Winter and the Mount Somers Walkway Society are the most productive, passionate and committed community group he has ever worked with.
“As well as Woolshed Creek, they constructed a new walk to Sharplin Falls (funded and managed by them), plus they’ve done an enormous amount of broom and gorse control in the Mt Somers area,” he says.
DOC ranger Chad Adams says they’re a key partner in the projects his team needs to get done.
“A lot of the work we do would be very difficult to achieve without them, we see them as one of us. It means we can focus on other areas. These guys are always ‘naturing’, there wouldn’t be a day go by when one of these guys isn’t out doing something. Peter’s a classic. He’s amazing at 94 to be going strong and what an inspiration,” Chad says.
Mount Somers Walkway Society President Robert Schikker says they get a huge amount of satisfaction from the work with DOC.
“Being retired farmers, we love hard physical work. Peter’s a real character and he’s been around for a long time. He’s apparently never been to the doctor. I reckon it’s this outdoor work and staying fit that keeps him going. We all enjoy a day out and bonding with each other and we love the idea that we are creating something that others can enjoy,” he says.
Chad Adams says having the group upgrade popular tracks is vital especially heading into a busy summer season.
“These tracks get masses of use, and we want to make sure they’re safe and well maintained. The Woolshed Creek Track is an ideal entry level tramp for families with the kids, as it’s an easy walk to a bookable DOC hut meaning you’re guaranteed a bed. There’s also a great flat area to pitch your tent. The work we did with the Mount Somers group has created a new zigzag track away from an area which had a bit of a steep drop off so it’s making it a lot safer for everyone. The new section of track leads down to an amazing spot called the Emerald Pools where you can have a dip,” he says.
The Mount Somers group wants more volunteers so is considering scheduling working bees in the weekend to attract younger people.
Chad Adams is keen to emphasise how much DOC values their work and how much more there is to be done.
“DOC is always busy. There’s a very long list,” he laughs.
“It’s hard work but it’s also good for your physical and mental health and you get to visit some very special spots. These guys all have big smiles on their faces, especially sitting on the hut verandah after a hard days track building.”
Peter Winter smiles and says it’s this type of work that keeps him feeling young.
“I just love it,” the 94 year old says.
Family-friendly overnight or day tramp naturing experience to Woolshed Creek Hut, on one end of the Mt Somers Track. This track offers good overnight or day walking options. For a day walk, you can do a return walk to Woolshed Creek Hut or a shorter walk such as along the historic tramway route or to Blackburn Mine or trig R.
The Woolshed Creek Hut is perfect for families with children or new trampers with 26 bunk beds. Bookings are required Woolshed Creek Hut.
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: NZ Ministry for Primary Industries
Taranaki Veterinary Centre (TVC) has taken out New Zealand Food Safety’s inaugural Antimicrobial Resistance Award thanks to their concerted efforts to reduce antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in cows under their care.
AMR happens when germs (bacteria, fungi, or viruses) no longer respond to medicines. Resistant germs can spread between humans, animals, plants and the environment.
“If not properly managed, this can lead to devastating outcomes for our health, the welfare of our animals, and our economy. It is ranked by the World Health Organization (WHO) among the top 10 threats to humans and animals,” says New Zealand Food Safety’s deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle.
“As we mark World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week (WAAW) which runs 18 to 24 November 2025, it’s a good time to stop and acknowledge New Zealanders making a difference to materially reduce AMR.”
Established in May 2025, the AMR Award recognises individuals, teams, or organisations making a real difference in reducing AMR risks in New Zealand. This includes using antibiotics responsibly, preventing infections, or finding new ways to reduce antibiotic use.
The inaugural award winner, TVC’s dairy team, services around 500 dairy farms (about 175,000 calving cows) based out of 5 clinics in South and Central Taranaki.
“They have demonstrated a strong leadership in their commitment to reducing antibiotic use in their practice,” says Mr Arbuckle.
“These efforts started in 2022 and have led to a major behavioural change in staff and clients. They’ve achieved a significant reduction in the use of critical medicines, and a reduction in whole-herd dry-cow antibiotic use in their clients’ herds.”
“I would like to extend my congratulations to the team at TVC for their leading example, showing what can be done when focussing on antibiotic stewardship.”
“We are impressed with the calibre of all award nominations and were pleased to see the hard work and dedication that individuals and organisations have committed in addressing this important issue,” says Mr Arbuckle.
If you have pets or animals on a lifestyle block or farm, there are things you can do to join the fight against AMR:
“Together, we can further reduce AMR and protect plant, animal and human health for current and future generations,” says Mr Arbuckle.
For more information, email: NZFoodSafety_media@mpi.govt.nz
For further information and general enquiries, call MPI on 0800 008 333 or email info@mpi.govt.nz
For media enquiries, contact the media team on 029 894 0328.
Source: NZ Department of Conservation
Sleek, strong and slithery yet secretive about their sex lives. Eels/tuna are the top predators of the freshwater world with exquisitely evolved teeth, jaws, muscles and fins – and an epic sense of smell.
Many more things make eels unique and special – how much do you know?
We asked two of DOC’s biggest eel fans – Brittany Earl, a freshwater ranger and Marine Richarson, a senior science advisor, for their top 10 eel facts. Read on!
1) Eels are fish
Brittany: One of the questions I get asked most often is, are eels fish? And yes, they are!
To be a fish you have to live in water, have gills and a spine, but not have arms and legs, fingers or toes. Eels get a tick for all these.
Most fish also have fins and scales – and eels have these too – but their scales are microscopic and embedded in their skin. The skin itself is covered in a healthy layer of protective mucus. This slime is an adaptation that helps them move through water and even over land, as long as they stay wet.
Speaking of fins, there are two main species of eels in Aotearoa, longfin and shortfin. Longfins generally grow bigger, live longer (longer than some humans) and inhabit streams further inland than shortfins. Longfins are only found here and are the largest and longest-lived freshwater eels in the world. Iconic!
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2) Breeding is the last thing eels ever do
Marine: When the mood feels right – moonlight, rain and a good river flow – eels get the urge to head downstream and out to sea. They gather at an unknown location in the Pacific Ocean, breed and then… well, they die.
In a publication from 1944, eels are described as breeding in “a great deep off the coast of the Great Barrier Reef”. Truth is we still don’t exactly know where that ‘great deep’ is or even if it’s that deep. The latest searches point to somewhere between New Caledonia and Fiji.
In a recent study, NIWA scientists used satellite trackers to try and pinpoint the final destination of migrant eels. But the ocean is vast and the tagged eels evaded scrutiny.
One thing every eel scientist agrees on: it’s a one-way trip to the spawning grounds, where eels release eggs and sperm. The next generation must make the long journey to the shores of Aotearoa on their own. Talk about a rough childhood!
3) Silver for the sea, brown for freshwater – eels can change colour
Brittany: Eels have really cool transforming powers. They totally change their shape and colour over the course of their lives.
Heading back from the Pacific, the hatchling eels are flat, colourless, leaf-shaped larvae. Being completely transparent makes them (hopefully) invisible to predators while they drift and wriggle back to our shores. When they get here, the larvae have become eel-shaped but are still transparent. And they have an evocative new name – glass eels.
This oceanic disguise doesn’t work in rivers and streams, so they hang out at river mouths for a couple of weeks until they’ve switched into camo colours. It’s pretty crazy! They stay brown until the end of their lives, changing back into silver attire in readiness for their final ocean journey.
4) The ancients thought eels reproduced without sex
Marine: Freshwater eels live all around the world, and for millennia, fascinated people have been coming up with intriguing ideas about their love lives.
The ancient Egyptians thought eels sprang to life when the sun warmed the Nile. Aristotle believed they just popped into existence and their food came from rainwater.
Pliny the Elder theorised that eels, “rub themselves against rocks and the particles which they thus scrape from their bodies come to life”.
The first person to argue that eels must have male and female forms was a philosopher, savant, composer, medical writer and practitioner and … drumroll please… a woman, St Hildegard of Bingen.
It took another 600-odd years for (male) scientists to pick up and validate Hildegard’s hypothesis. The next challenge lay in finding eel testes.
In 1876 Sigmund Freud was a young marine biology researcher. He set out to find the ‘male apparatus’ that had recently been described by a contemporary. Dissecting 400 eels, he eventually found just two testes.
It was such a debacle that Freud abandoned this career and shifted his attention to the human mind. (Perhaps eels have something to do with the weirder aspects of psychoanalytical theories after all?)
What we now know is that sexual organs don’t develop until eels are on their way to their breeding grounds. That’s one eel mystery solved – but a few remain!
5) Glass eels have attitude
Brittany: One of the best parts of my job is going out and monitoring (basically counting and checking) the glass eels at the mouth of the Ashley/Rakahuri River in spring each year. I’m in the middle of it right now. It’s a DOC-led study that’s been going for 30 years.
Glass eels are pretty cute – and feisty! If you’ve ever handled an adult eel, you’ll know that they’re strong, slippery and have a lot of energy for their size. Glass eels are exactly the same but they’re tiny. I love watching them wriggle around, hiding in corners of the net or climbing out of my bucket.
The study involves looking at them under the microscope, so I get to see their hearts beating and what they’ve just eaten, like mayfly larvae and algae from the rocks. Of course, we put them all back carefully in the river afterwards 😊.
6) Māori have more than 150 names for tuna
Marine: Māori have always been keen observers of the natural world, but the mātauranga (knowledge) on eels is mind blowing. Tuna are a significant and highly valued taonga species. Their importance is reflected in place names, whakataūki (proverbs), legends, waiata (songs) and art.
Māori give tuna different names depending on their size, colour, where they’re found and the time of the year. Some names are used by just one iwi while some are common throughout Aotearoa.
Traditionally smoked, tuna were an important source of food and are still treasured for serving to manuhiri (guests) and at hākari (feasts).
7) Glass eels aren’t fussy about the river they come home to
Brittany: Salmon are famous for their homing instinct – they travel back to exactly the river where they were born. (They’re thought to navigate by smell, magnetic fields, the moon and stars.)
Eels will go into any healthy stream or river. They love the smell of decomposing leaves (yum!) and other signals of bushy habitat upstream. Those are the rivers they head for.
Drained wetlands, polluted water, introduced fish and culverts they can’t climb have a negative impact on eel populations.
These factors are likely to be behind the At Risk – Declining conservation status of longfin eels in New Zealand. I’m seeing that in the Rakahuri study, with fewer longfin glass eels each year. But the good news is that if we can improve water quality, access and habitat in rivers, eels will move back in!
8) New Zealand eels have been exported for more than 50 years
Marine: Most eels caught commercially in New Zealand are exported: smoked, frozen whole, filleted, skinned and even live, depending on demand. They go to Asia, North America and Europe (the Brits love their jellied eel!).
In the 1960s, while eel stocks elsewhere had started falling, New Zealand eels rocketed to become one the country’s most valuable fish exports. At its height in the 1970s, more than 30 factories supported the industry, processing up to 2,000 tons of shortfin and longfin eels.
Commercial catches are now declining. The downward trend varies from region to region with catches around 200–300 tonnes, valued at less than $3 million a year. The commercial eel fishery is highly regulated and managed through the Quota Management System by Fisheries New Zealand. Every year, regulators, fisheries scientists and fishers meet to discuss the state of the fishery and agree on the new season’s rules to ensure a fair and sustainable activity.
9) Hydro dams can bring eel migration to a dead stop
Marine: Eels and longfins in particular, can be very long-lived – some even touching a century. Some old girls are living in lakes and rivers above hydro dams. They would have swum up as youngsters before the dams were built and been there ever since, waiting for the call to return to the sea.
For many, that call will spell disaster. They can get stuck, injured or killed by the dams’ turbines and spillways. This has been going on for decades.
Lucky eels are picked up by very dedicated people, often iwi, who run trap-and-transfer schemes to collect and move them safely downstream past the dams. Some are volunteers. Some are paid as part of resource consents for operating the dams.
Many different fixes have been tried and tested – screens, eel bypasses, ‘fish-friendly’ turbines and more – but solving this problem is technically difficult and costly. In the meantime, we need everyone to be on board to safeguard eel passage. I believe there is huge power in structure operators, local government, manawhenua and community groups teaming up for the welfare of eels.
10) There used to be WAY more eels here
Marine: Eels used to be plentiful everywhere. Māori tell stories of bountiful tuna harvests until the mid-twentieth century, like this account from Wairarapa kaumātua Wiremu Aspinall.
“Here in the Wairarapa, goodness gracious I’ve never seen so many eels,
…a mass of eels going out to sea… Big wide drains, about 12 feet wide. The drains were thick with eels. You could hear them at night like ducks taking off and you know they’re running.”
There is a powerful concept in environmental science that explains how our perception of ‘normal’ changes over time, often without us realising. Each generation accepts the environmental conditions they see as the norm, even if those conditions are degraded. Little by little, we lower our expectations for biodiversity and abundance and accept a ‘new normal’. This collective memory loss is called shifting baseline syndrome.
Today, it’s really hard to picture what that was like, how today’s cities, agricultural land and cultivated forests used to look, sound and smell. Try and imagine a beach covered in so many seals that you can barely see the sand, the sun almost blocked out by millions of swirling seabirds, and birdsong so loud from the forest nearby you can hardly hear yourself think.
But perceiving a species as abundant, even if its population is a meagre remnant, can lead to overconfidence or complacency in the way we manage and conserve species.
This is unfortunately the case with eels. Today longfin eels have a threat status of At Risk-Declining and they’re only found in Aotearoa. What a change in just over 100 years.
My work at DOC includes research and advocacy for both species, and rangers like Brittany are working around the country to learn more about and protect these amazing animals through the Ngā Ika e Heke – migratory fish programme.
Go naturing with eels
There’s lots to love about eels and watching them in real life is definitely the best way to learn about and appreciate them. You can see eels in their natural environment or at an aquarium in quite a few places around the country (Google it).
Some practical things you can do help restore eel populations are:
Online resources
There are some excellent resources online. We’ve drawn on these for this blog:
Source: Eastern Institute of Technology
15 seconds ago
After stepping away from her career for five years to support her family overseas, industrial pharmacist Nisha James has reignited her professional life through postgraduate study at EIT Auckland.
With more than a decade of experience in quality assurance roles in India’s pharmaceutical sector, Nisha had built a strong foundation in the industry before taking a career break when her husband moved to Qatar for work. Unable to find opportunities in her field there, she began exploring ways to re-enter the workforce.
“I always dreamt of studying in a foreign country, and I knew further education would help me restart my career,” she said. “When I learned about EIT’s Master of Health Science, it felt like the right choice. New Zealand offered the quality of education, safety, and lifestyle I was looking for.”
Nisha, 40, moved to New Zealand in 2023 with her husband and young daughter and completed her Master of Health Science in December 2024. She is now employed as an Operations Manager at Auxilio Pharmaceuticals in Auckland, where she oversees production processes and compliance.
“I chose EIT because of its strong reputation for academic excellence and practical learning,” she said. “The curriculum aligned closely with industry needs, and the lecturers were approachable and genuinely invested in helping students succeed.”
The programme offered evidence-based research, case analyses, and presentations that mirrored real-world health challenges.
“It helped me update my technical knowledge and strengthen my analytical and problem-solving skills,” she said. “I particularly valued how the learning encouraged collaboration and independent thinking.”
Nisha said the support she received from EIT staff was instrumental in her return to the workforce.
“My project supervisor, Jeffery Adams, was incredibly supportive, and Brendon Hickey helped me tailor my CV for the New Zealand job market,” she said. “That kind of guidance gave me the confidence to apply for roles in my field again.”
She described the move to New Zealand with a young child as challenging but rewarding.
“It wasn’t easy at first, but now I feel at home here,” she said. “The work-life balance is so much better, and the people are very welcoming. My daughter has adjusted beautifully too.”
Nisha says her studies at EIT have given her the confidence and skills to take her career further.
“My long-term goal is to help shape regulatory practices and operational excellence in the industry,” she said. “Eventually, I hope to contribute at a global level by working with international teams to improve access to effective healthcare solutions.”
She recommends EIT to others. “EIT offers the perfect balance of academic knowledge and real-world application. It’s a place that helps you grow professionally while building the confidence to take your next step.”
EIT Auckland Campus Director Cherie Freeman said: “Nisha’s story is a wonderful example of how education can open doors and rebuild confidence”.
“We’re proud to have supported her journey and thrilled to see her thriving in New Zealand’s pharmaceutical industry.”
Source: Maritime New Zealand
Maritime NZ now requires Ministry of Justice (MoJ) criminal record checks for fit and proper person (FPP) assessments for all seafarers’ and maritime operators’ certificates. We no longer use Police vetting.
You request your MoJ record check yourself before applying to Maritime NZ for your certificate, and submit this with your application. This means we can process your application faster – we won’t have to put it on hold while we ask for Police vetting.
It’s free to request a copy of your own MoJ record, which is available from the MoJ website. Click on “Criminal record check” at the top of the homepage.
Employers can also register with MoJ, via the same webpage, so you can have checks done for your staff’s maritime documents.
It’s important to know that the Policing Act 2008 is being amended and when those changes are made Police vetting will no longer be available for routine FPP checks.
How to get help
If you have questions about the new application process:
Source: New Zealand Transport Agency
Those wanting to know more about one of Wellington’s largest proposed infrastructure projects are about to get their chance.
Starting this weekend, and continuing to mid-December, NZTA/Waka Kotahi will hold public information days so that people can find out more about the proposed Road of National Significance (RoNS) State Highway 1 Wellington Improvements Project.
Mount Victoria Tunnel visualisation
Kesh Keshaboina, Regional Manager System Design says six information days will be held from 23 November until 6 December.
“These events will give the public the chance to look at our early design work and imagery of the proposed project. Our transport experts will also be available to answer questions and take public feedback.”
Mr Keshaboina says for those who cannot attend, updated project information will be published on the NZTA/Waka Kotahi website from Monday 17 November, and an online survey will be available for people to provide their feedback.
“These are significant proposals, and they have the potential to have a major impact on Wellington’s transport infrastructure.”
“The engagement we are planning is a great chance for people to have a good look at what is being proposed, and to have their say before plans and designs are further developed,” Mr Keshaboina says.
The project includes a second Terrace Tunnel, a second Mount Victoria Tunnel and roading upgrades at the Basin Reserve as well as improvements on the remaining state highway corridor through central Wellington, Hataitai, and Kilbirnie.
The public information days are just a part of ongoing engagement NZTA/Waka Kotahi has underway. Extensive engagement continues with Councils, iwi, landowners, and other key stakeholders.
The online survey will be available to the public from 17 November and will close on December 14. Feedback will be taken into consideration during the next design phase of the project.
Full project information as well as details about the information days and feedback survey can be found on the NZTA/Waka Kotahi website:
