Category: MIL-OSI

Source: NZ Music Month takes to the streets

A new 110km/h speed limit on State Highway 1 (SH1) for the Northern Gateway Toll Road, from north of Orewa to south of the Johnstone’s Hill Tunnels, will come into effect from 26 May, Transport Minister Chris Bishop announced today.

“Economic growth and productivity are a priority for the Government, and with around 11,000 vehicles per day travelling on the Northern Gateway, 9 per cent of that being heavy vehicles, the new higher speed limit of 110km/h will help ensure people and freight can get to where they need to go, quickly and safely,” Mr Bishop says.

“Late last year, the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) consulted on the proposed speed limit increase to 110km/h. More than 7,900 submissions were received from across Northland and Auckland, with 93% in support of the increased speed limit and 91% strongly supporting it.

“This road has been designed and constructed with safety features such as two lanes in each direction providing safe passing opportunities, physical median separation between opposing lanes, and a mostly straight, wide alignment. Additional safety improvements are being considered over the next 12 to 18 months. 

“Kiwis have had their say and NZTA have assessed the Northern Gateway Toll Road as being safe to increase the speed limit to 110km/h. Now, we’re getting on and delivering it. Police will apply the same enforcement to 110km/h roads as any other part of the road network. Drivers can expect to see police patrols on New Zealand roads anywhere, at any time.

“The Northern Gateway Toll Road is a crucial corridor for road users and freight, and well as tourists, and forms an important part of the key strategic route between Auckland and Whangārei, and beyond into Northland. I look forward to the new 110km/h speed limit coming into effect later this month.

The new 110km/h speed limit on the Northern Gateway Toll Road comes into effect on Monday 26 May and will apply for 5.5km section of State Highway 1 (SH1) from north of Orewa to south of the Johnstones Hill Tunnels.

Note’s to editor:

• The speed limit on SH1 through the Johnstones Hill Tunnels will remain 80km/h. While the SH1 Johnstones Hill Tunnels are built to high safety standards, the enclosed environment within a tunnel creates a different safety risk to that of the surrounding motorway. There are no current plans to review or change the speed limit for this section.

Source: New Zealand Police

Emergency services are responding to a crash involving a vehicle and at least one pedestrian on Fitzgerald Avenue, near Hereford Street.

Police were called about 2.15pm.

Initial indications are there may have been serious injuries. 

The Serious Crash Unit has been notified, and traffic management is in place. 

Motorists should avoid the area if possible. 

ENDS 

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Police

One person has died after a truck collided with a power pole in Whangārei overnight.

The crash, at the intersection of Riverside Drive and Ewing Road, was reported to Police at 1.25am today.

The driver of the truck was the sole occupant.

Enquiries are under way into the circumstances of the crash.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre. 
 

Source: University of Auckland (UoA)

Kiwi scientists have discovered how daylight can boost the immune system’s ability to fight infections.

NZT 6am Saturday 24 May: A breakthrough study, led by scientists at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland, has uncovered how daylight can boost the immune system’s ability to fight infections.

The team focused on the most abundant immune cells in our bodies, called ‘neutrophils’, which are a type of white blood cell. These cells move quickly to the site of an infection and kill invading bacteria.

The researchers used zebrafish, a small freshwater fish, as a model organism, because its genetic make-up is similar to ours and they can be bred to have transparent bodies, making it easy to observe biological processes in real time.

“In earlier studies, we had observed that immune responses peaked in the morning, during the fish’s early active phase,” says lead researcher Associate Professor Christopher Hall, from the Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology.

“We think this represents an evolutionary response such that during daylight hours the host is more active so more likely to encounter bacterial infections,” says Hall.

However, the scientists wanted to find out how the immune response was being synchronised with daylight.

With this new study, published in Science Immunology, and led by two doctoral researchers, neutrophils were found to possess a circadian clock that alerted them to daytime, and boosted their ability to kill bacteria.

Most of our cells have circadian clocks to tell them what time of day it is in the outside world, in order to regulate the body’s activities. Light has the biggest influence on resetting these circadian clocks.

“Given that neutrophils are the first immune cells to be recruited to sites of inflammation, our discovery has very broad implications for therapeutic benefit in many inflammatory diseases,” Hall says.

“This finding paves the way for development of drugs that target the circadian clock in neutrophils to boost their ability to fight infections.”

The research was funded through the Royal Society of NZ’s Marsden Fund.

Current research is now focussed on understanding the specific mechanisms by which light influences the neutrophil circadian clock.

Find out about animal-based research at the University of Auckland: http://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/research/about-our-research/openness-in-animal-research.html

Source: New Zealand Police

One person has died following a crash in Tapanui this afternoon.

Just after 3:30pm, Police were called to a single vehicle crash on Station Road.

The vehicle collided with a garage before catching fire. The sole occupant of the vehicle died at the scene.

Police are making enquiries to determine the circumstances of the crash.

Station Road remains closed while enquiries continue.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Police

A homicide investigation is continuing into the death of a 77-year-old man in Horeke.

The investigation has been underway after the man was found critically injured at a property on Waikerikeri Road in the early hours of 22 May.

He sadly died at the scene.

Detective Inspector Rhys Johnston, of Northland CIB, says a scene examination is ongoing at a property on Waikerikeri Road.

“A team of 15 investigators are working on the enquiry, with Northland receiving support from other Police districts and from ESR scientists,” he says.

“Police want to assure the community that no other persons are being sought in relation to this matter.”

A 73-year-old man, who arrived the Kaikohe Police station on Wednesday night, has been remanded in custody on a range of unrelated charges.

He will reappear in the Kaikohe District Court next month.

Enquiries will continue into the 77-year-old man’s death.

“A post-mortem examination is expected to be conducted on the victim tomorrow,” Detective Inspector Johnston says.

ENDS.

Nicole Bremner/NZ Police 

Source: New Zealand Police

Northland Police are continuing to investigate the tragic death of a 3-year-old girl in Kaikohe on Wednesday evening.

Police attended an address on Taraire Street where the girl was initially located unresponsive.

“A scene examination has taken place today and will continue into tomorrow,” Detective Inspector Rhys Johnston, of Northland CIB, says.

“These are always difficult investigations, for the whānau, community and the police themselves.”

At this stage the circumstances are still unexplained. A post-mortem was conducted today and Police are waiting on the results.

“The investigators are determined to uncover the full facts and have a team of 20 working on the case,” Detective Inspector Johnston says.

“The enquiry team is supported by staff who’ve arrived from other districts given a number of serious matters being investigated.”

Investigations into the little girl’s death will continue across the weekend.

ENDS.

Nicole Bremner/NZ Police

Source: New Zealand Police

Please attribute to Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Darren Pritchard

Two men have been arrested in Gisborne this afternoon, following an incident involving a firearm earlier today.

At around 6:30am today Police were called to an address on Colin Street after receiving reports of two vehicles being damaged, and a firearm presented at the occupants of the address.

Armed Police attended and two men, aged 29 and 50 were taken into custody at the scene.

A search of a nearby address resulted in Police locating two firearms.

The incident, which was not gang related was resolved quickly due to a swift Police response, and enquiries into the incident will continue.

The two men are due to appear in the Gisborne District Court tomorrow, charged with wilful damage, commission of a crime with a firearm and presenting a firearm at a person.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: NZ Music Month takes to the streets

New Zealand and Australia are redoubling our efforts to navigate an increasingly challenging strategic environment together, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.

“It’s been an honour to be hosted in Adelaide today by Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong,” Mr Peters says. 

“We wanted to get across the Tasman as soon as possible after the Australian general election because there is so much for us to tackle together.

“New Zealand and Australia face an unpredictable, contested and disordered region and world. We are strongest when we meet these challenges together.”   

Ministers Peters and Wong meet formally for Australia–New Zealand Foreign Minister Consultations twice a year. Today’s FMCs in Adelaide follow those held in Melbourne and Auckland in 2024 and covered bilateral cooperation, priorities in the Pacific, regional security in the Indo-Pacific and global tensions and developments. 

“Australia is New Zealand’s closest, most important and most likeminded partner, and it has been invaluable to discuss in detail with Minister Wong today how we will work together in the period ahead on the issues that matter most to our countries and our peoples,” Mr Peters says.

“The global environment is such that New Zealand and Australia face more concerted threats to our interests and values than we have for generations. In that context, we have been able today to update each another on our respective government priorities at an important moment in our countries’ political cycles, while focusing on how and where we can cooperate for mutual benefit.

“Our relationship is as strong as ever, and we are committed to maintaining this close bond now that Prime Minister Albanese, Foreign Minister Wong and their colleagues have secured a second term.

“These consultations highlight not just the value New Zealand places in our relationship with Australia, but also our enduring commitment to work together to promote our shared international goals, such as Pacific development and security,” Mr Peters says. 

Minister Peters will depart Australia for Sri Lanka tomorrow, where he will begin a tour of South Asia