Category: MIL-OSI

Source: New Zealand Police

Attribute to Inspector Caroline Martin Hawke’s Bay Area Prevention Manager.

Police have made one arrest for the burglary of the Life Pharmacy on Monday 16 June.

Two alleged offenders entered the Emerson Street premises around 2.30am using a weapon to break through a glass door.

They took several items from the store before fleeing the area.

A short time later, Police located one of the vehicles on Venables Avenue and found items believed to be from the store. 

After making enquiries, Police identified and located a youth, who was spoken to by Police. The youth has been referred to Youth Aid and the items have been returned to the store.

It is unacceptable to see young people committing these types of offences, but we are pleased that the public and Police working together resulted in one apprehension so far and recovery of the stolen items.

We understand the harm and concern this causes for those in our community, especially our retailers.

We hope these results are a reminder to the Napier community that we are taking offending of this nature seriously, and we will continue to take action.

Police are continuing to follow positive lines of inquiry and are appealing to the public for any information that may assist in our investigation.

Please contact Police through 105, either online or via phone and quote the reference number 250616/1867.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government is delivering on its commitment to improve healthcare access across the country, with expanded orthopaedic services now reaching more patients in Northland, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.

“New Zealanders deserve timely, high-quality healthcare no matter where they live – and that’s exactly what we’re delivering for both urban and rural Northlanders,” Mr Brown says.

In a major boost to orthopaedic services, Health New Zealand has welcomed three new orthopaedic surgeons to the Northland region. Their arrival has significantly increased the capacity to see and treat more patients, including through outreach clinics in rural areas.

“These additional surgeons mean around 160 more people can be seen every month, including through specialist clinics, follow-ups and first specialist assessments.

“This will help to reduce wait times and improve access to care – particularly for people in more remote areas.”

One of the new surgeons is also running a weekly diabetic foot clinic, with plans to expand this into a multidisciplinary service aimed at improving outcomes, preventing amputations, and reducing hospital admissions.

Meanwhile, Kaitaia Hospital has achieved a significant milestone with the completion of its first total knee replacement surgery – bringing advanced orthopaedic care even closer to home for Far North residents.

“This is a fantastic result for patients in the Far North. Kaitaia is over two and a half hours from Whangārei and being able to access this level of care locally means people can recover in their own community, supported by family and familiar surroundings.”

“These developments reflect our Government’s clear focus on improving access to health services, reducing pressure on the system, and ensuring better outcomes for all New Zealanders.

“We’re backing our health workforce, investing in regional capacity, and ensuring care is delivered where it’s needed most.

“This is about delivering practical, meaningful improvements to healthcare in the regions – and making sure Northlanders get the care they need, closer to home,” Mr Brown says.

Source: New Zealand Labour Party

Source: New Zealand Labour Party

Source: New Zealand Police

At around 11:20am emergency services received reports of a single vehicle crash on the Waikato Expressway, south of Cambridge Road, Tamahere.

One north bound and one south bound lane are blocked.

No injuries have been reported at this stage.

Motorists should expect delays and avoid the area if possible.

Traffic management is on route and emergency services are working to clear the road.

ENDS

Source: Maritime New Zealand

Maritime NZ has filed two charges against KiwiRail after completing a comprehensive and wide-ranging investigation into the grounding of the Interislander ferry, Aratere last year.

Source: New Zealand Police

NZ Police have this week dealt a significant blow to the manufacture and supply of methamphetamine by the Greazy Dogs MC in western Bay of Plenty this week, with the arrest of several members and associates of the gang, and the restraint of more than $1.5 million of assets.

On 17 – 18 June, Police carried out 35 search warrants at properties across Tauranga, including the Greazy Dogs MC pad. Those arrested as a result of these warrants include senior members of the Greazy Dog MC, including the national vice president and the sergeant at arms.

“The arrests and asset restraints this week mark the successful culmination of a National Organised Crime Group (NOCG) operation that began in late 2024,” says Detective Inspector Albie Alexander.

“This operation – Operation Kingtide – identified the Greazy Dogs MC as controlling the methamphetamine supply across the western Bay of Plenty, through local manufacture.”

Search warrants executed located firearms, ammunition, methamphetamine, chemicals and equipment used in the manufacture of methamphetamine, cannabis and approximately $25,000 in cash.

In addition, Police’s Asset Recovery Unit has restrained more than $1.5 million of assets to date, including two residential properties, two cars and three motorcycles.

Further search warrants are being carried out this week and more arrests and charges are likely.

“With the arrest of these senior gang members and the seizure of their equipment and assets, I’m confident we have dealt a significant blow to the Greazy Dogs’ methamphetamine operation, and the supply of methamphetamine in the western Bay of Plenty,” says Detective Inspector Alexander.

“Police will continue to focus on the enforcement and disruption of such criminal groups, who are dealing primarily in the sale and supply of methamphetamine into our most vulnerable communities.”

Bay of Plenty District Commander, Superintendent Tim Anderson, has welcomed the arrests of the Greazy Dogs MC members and associates, saying he has seen first-hand the immense harm that methamphetamine causes in communities in Bay of Plenty and across New Zealand.

“The Greazy Dogs MC, as with other gangs involved in the supply of methamphetamine in New Zealand, are in this for the money. They don’t care about the enormous damage the drug is doing to families in our communities, even though many of them are parents themselves. All they are interested in is how much money they can make for themselves and their associates.”

Working alongside the officers undertaking enforcement action this week has been the team from the Resilience to Organised Crime in Communities (ROCC) programme, which takes a multi-agency approach to help address the social conditions that feed the emergence or growth of organised crime, and the harms that flow from it.  

Op Manawaroa (Resilience) has run alongside Operation Kingtide and is led by Bay of Plenty ROCC, with assistance from other ROCC regions including Eastern, Southern and Porirua.

“What this looks like in practice is officers and senior advisors from our ROCC team visiting homes after search warrants have been executed, looking to engage and support families and whānau of those arrested,” Superintendent Anderson.

“Our local ROCC team, with the support of other Police harm prevention work groups, local agencies, iwi and community partners, will continue to work with families and whānau of those affected. This is a long-term approach to prevention and in response to mitigating and preventing further harm and offending.”

Arrest and charge details to date:

25-year-old Tauranga man – charged with participating in an organised criminal group, supplying methamphetamine, offering to supply methamphetamine, and possession of methamphetamine

34-year-old Mt Maunganui man – charged with participating in an organised criminal group, supplying methamphetamine, offering to supply methamphetamine, and possession of methamphetamine for supply

34-year-old Papamoa man – charged with participating in an organised criminal group, supplying methamphetamine, offering to supply methamphetamine, and possession for supply of methamphetamine

33-year-old Mt Maunganui man – charged with participating in an organised criminal group, supplying methamphetamine, offering to supply methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine for supply, and conspiring to supply cocaine

37-year-old Tauranga man – charged with participating in an organised criminal group, supplying methamphetamine, offering to supply methamphetamine, and possession of methamphetamine for supply.

MEDIA ADVISORY:

Detective Inspector Albie Anderson and Superintendent Tim Anderson will be available to speak to media at Tauranga Police Station at 1pm today. 
Media wishing to attend are asked to report to the front counter of the police station by 12.50pm.

Source: PHARMAC

Pharmac is fully funding two brands of liquid nutrition replacements for adults with Crohn’s disease who use them as their only source of nutrition.

The nutrition replacements are Ensure Plus and Fortisip (200ml bottles, 1.5kcal/ml) and changes to funding will take place from 1 July 2025.

Adrienne Martin, Manager Pharmaceutical Funding says, “we are removing the additional cost on Ensure Plus and Fortisip so adults with Crohn’s disease, who use them as their only source of nutrition, can continue to access and benefit from fully funded treatment.”

Crohn’s is a type of inflammatory bowel disease. Some people with this condition use these nutrition replacements as their exclusive diet for a period of 4–12 weeks.

The goal of this exclusive diet is to rest the gut, to reduce inflammation and promote healing. This also may help manage symptoms and reduce the likelihood of needing surgery.

A different fully funded nutrition replacement was previously available for these people, but the supplier stopped making it.

“We are grateful to those who provided feedback to our proposal and shared it with their community. Having this additional information from clinicians and the community helps with our decisions.”

“Our role is to help people access the medicines and related products they need to improve their health. We estimate around 200 adults with Crohn’s disease will benefit from the funding each year,” says Martin 

Source: New Zealand Labour Party

Source: New Zealand Labour Party