Category: MIL-OSI

Source: New Zealand Police

Statement in the name of Tusha Penny, Assistant Commissioner Road Policing and District Support:

We understand that the global fuel situation is causing people to feel nervous and some are concerned it could lead to an increase in fuel theft and related crime.

Nationally, Police is watching closely for any trends around fuel theft and associated offences.

At this stage, it is too early to determine any notable change in offending.

Police will remain visible in our communities and will respond to any incidents as they arise.

We know many people feel more reassured if they know what steps they can take to help keep themselves and their property safe. Prevention advice is provided below.

For agricultural communities and businesses

The existing information in the joint crime prevention guide between Police, FMG, and Federated Farmers is below and at: fmg-rural-crime-prevention-advice-guide.pdf

• Park vehicles with fuel caps close to the wall or another vehicle to restrict access to fuel tanks.

• Try to keep fuel out of sight, and ensure fuel tanks are secured and locked to restrict theft and tampering.

• Install security lighting that lights up fuel tanks and fuelling areas.

• Keep an inventory of fuel consumption so any thefts can be identified quickly.

• Install fuel tank locking devices on all petrol and diesel tanks on your property.

Residential vehicles

Many modern cars have anti-siphoning techniques installed, but other ways to minimise risk of fuel theft or siphoning are:

• Keep your car locked in a garage. If you can’t park your car in a garage then park it on your property with the fuel cap close to the wall or another vehicle to restrict access.

• Have security/sensor lighting on around your car if possible.

• If you have to park your car on the road, then try to park it in a well-lit location.

• Use a car alarm.

Petrol stations and retailers

Police has been engaging with petrol stations and there has been no discernible change in crime reporting at this stage, and our reporting also backs that up. For retailers, Police recommends the below prevention measures:

• Use pre-pay or pump pre-authorisation during times of elevated risk

• Have staff maintain strong visibility on the forecourt

• Check all tank and fill-point access to ensure covers, storage zones, and restricted areas are secure and locked at all times.

• Review and test CCTV coverage, ensuring pumps, entrances/exits, and tank access points are clearly recorded.

• Ensure lighting is bright and fully operational across the forecourt, storage areas, and rear-of-site access points.

• Engage regular security patrols, especially overnight, to reinforce site visibility and deter offending.

• Report all suspicious behaviour or incidents to Police: 105 or 105.police.govt.nz for non-urgent matters; or 111 for emergency situations that are happening now.

ENDS

Issued by the Police Media Centre

Source: NZ Ministry for Primary Industries

Biosecurity New Zealand has ended Oriental fruit fly operations and lifted restrictions on the movement of fruit and vegetables in the Auckland suburb of Papatoetoe.

The move, which comes after no further evidence of the Oriental fruit fly in the area, signals the end of 5 weeks of intensive fruit fly trapping and the inspection of nearly 4,000 kilograms of fruit.

Biosecurity New Zealand commissioner north Mike Inglis says eradicating the fruit fly would not have been possible without strong community support.  

“I’d like to thank residents and businesses in Papatoetoe for their efforts in helping us get rid of this pest. Everyone who’s complied with movement controls, disposed of food waste in our bins, and simply kept an eye out for Oriental fruit fly has helped make this possible.

“Given there have been no further detections, the Controlled Area Notice restrictions can be lifted and response operations closed.”

Biosecurity New Zealand’s wheelie bins will be removed and road signs will be dismantled.

The end of this response does not mean the end of fruit fly surveillance. Biosecurity New Zealand’s nearly 8,000 fruit fly traps across the country, including over 4,600 in Auckland, remain in place.

They are designed to specifically target the Queensland fruit fly, Mediterranean fruit fly, and Oriental fruit fly.

“These surveillance traps have once again demonstrated just how effective they are in targeting exotic species of fruit fly.”

Biosecurity New Zealand staff will be out in the community handing out flyers about the response closure and personally thanking residents and business owners for their contribution to the effort.

Key figures:

• More than 1,900 individual visits were made to check 172 fruit fly traps in the Papatoetoe area throughout the response.
• Nearly 1,475 biosecurity bins were distributed in the community to collect produce waste for safe disposal.
• Nearly 4,000 kilograms of fruit were collected and examined for signs of fruit fly eggs or larvae.

Source: New Zealand Police

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

The two-vehicle crash, involving a truck and a car, on State Highway 3 was reported just after 2:30pm.

No further injuries have been reported.

The road remains closed, motorists are advised to avoid the area.

Detours are in place via Golf Road and Herbert Street.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Police

One person has died following a single vehicle crash in Taheke this morning.

Emergency services were called to State Highway 12, Taheke at around 9.15am.

Sadly, one person was pronounced deceased at the scene.

SH12 was closed between Horeke Road and Rakauwahia Road while the Serious Crash Unit conducted a scene examination. It has since reopened.

Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.

ENDS.

Frankie Le Roy/NZ Police

Source: Auckland Council

Biosecurity New Zealand has announced today that it has lifted restrictions on the movement of fruit and vegetables in Papatoetoe with no further fruit flies found in the area.

Dr Imogen Bassett, Head of Natural Environment Specialist Services, welcomes this news and acknowledges the efforts of the community to keep this unwanted pest out of Auckland.

“We know that these restrictions can be disruptive – a huge thanks to our community in Papatoetoe for stepping up to help protect our natural environment and economy and following the guidance from Biosecurity New Zealand and the council,” says Imogen.

Biosecurity New Zealand will be collecting their bins and removing signage over the next couple of days.

Kerbside collections resume

With biosecurity restrictions removed, normal kerbside collections can resume for the impacted area, including the return of food scraps collections for Zone A. The impacted area’s first normal collection will be tomorrow, on Tuesday 31 March.

Remember, you can ask the council for an additional food scraps bin for free, or request to have a broken or stolen bin replaced, by contacting us. 

If you haven’t already, give your food scraps collection a try and join thousands of Aucklanders who have already helped turn over 60 million kgs of food scraps into clean energy.

A fast-moving operation

On 25 February, Biosecurity New Zealand announced the discovery of a single male Oriental fruit fly in a surveillance trap in Papatoetoe. Then, on 2 March, three more male Oriental fruit flies were found in the area.

Oriental fruit fly poses no human health risk, but there would be an economic cost to the horticulture industry if it were allowed to establish here.

Biosecurity New Zealand responded swiftly, ramping up trapping and inspection and Auckland Council followed quickly, ensuring the kerbside collections followed the Controlled Area Notice (CAN) in place that restricted the movement of fruit and vegetables in the area.

When announcing the end of the operation, Biosecurity New Zealand thanked the Papatoetoe community for its support which is critical to successfully find and eradicate these fruit flies.

The response timeframe set by Biosecurity New Zealand is based on scientific advice about the life cycle of the Oriental fruit fly and helps instil confidence that there’s no breeding population.

While restrictions are lifted, stay vigilant. If you think you’ve spotted an exotic fruit fly like the Oriental fruit fly or its eggs, or larvae/maggots in your fruit, call Biosecurity New Zealand (MPI) right away on 0800 80 99 66.

More information about what to look out for is available on MPI’s website.

MPI will continue as normal to check the 7,800 fruit fly traps around the country, including more than 4,600 in the Auckland area.

Source: NZCTU

New Zealand has 41,465 fewer filled jobs compared with two years ago, with Stats NZ data confirming a sustained decline in employment that the Government has failed to address, says NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi President Sandra Grey.

“This data shows what so many people are already feeling. Life is hard for those looking for work. We have had sustained job losses since the last election, yet the Government appears to have no plan to help people who are out of work,” adds Grey.

The data reveals widespread job losses across industries and regions:

• Manufacturing has lost 10,000 workers over the past two years.
• Construction has shed 19,300 workers since the election.
• Young people have been hit especially hard, with 38,900 fewer 15- to 24-year-olds in filled jobs over the past two years.
• Male employment has also declined sharply, with 30,000 fewer filled jobs for men in just two years.

“The picture looks the same no matter where you look. Auckland has lost 21,000 filled jobs in two years. Northland, Waikato, Gisborne, and Hawke’s Bay have all gone backwards. This isn’t an isolated problem – it’s happening right across the country,” says Grey.

Workers who do have jobs are also falling behind. Earnings have grown by less than inflation, meaning real wages continue to decline. Working Kiwis are working harder and earning less in real terms.

“This data is from February this year – it doesn’t yet account for the latest economic headwinds from the oil crisis and global uncertainty. Data from March onwards is likely to show conditions getting tougher. The Government’s only plan right now is more cuts and hoping the conflict in the Middle East resolves itself. New Zealand deserves a better plan than this,” says Grey.

“Working people cannot afford to wait while the Government pins its hopes on external forces beyond its control. We need investment in jobs, support for affected sectors, and a commitment to ensuring workers share in any economic recovery,” says Grey.

Source: New Zealand Police

A Police investigation has swooped in on allegedly one of New Zealand’s most prolific sellers of illegal drugs on the dark web.

Operation Laver sees a continued focus by the National Organised Crime Group at putting pressure on drug importers and suppliers operating on the dark web.

Detective Senior Sergeant Reece Sirl says the investigation targeted a prolific user on the largest New Zealand dark web server.

Police will allege the account was used to carry out around 2,800 individual drug transactions between June 2025 and March 2026.

“We estimate the value of these transactions over nine-months is around $1.2 million,” Detective Senior Sergeant Sirl says.

“These transactions involved around 13 different types of drugs, including methamphetamine, cocaine, MDMA, GBL and ketamine.”

Police executed a search warrant at a rural property in northern Auckland late last week.

Detective Senior Sergeant Sirl says a concoction of drugs were located at the property in various stages of preparation for supply to dark net customers.

Around $55,000 in cash was also seized.

A 35-year-old man and a 32-year-old woman were arrested and appeared before the North Shore District Court.

A significant number of charges involving the sale and supply of class A, B and C controlled drugs have been laid in the North Shore District Court.

“We cannot rule out further charges for either of these two individuals, and any further persons identified from evidence located during the ongoing investigation,” Detective Senior Sergeant Sirl says.

It is yet another investigation disrupting illicit drug operations in New Zealand attempting to hide away on the dark web.

“Many dark net vendors believe they are operating with impunity,” he says.

“However, they should be aware that even though they are choosing to operate in the shadows, you are not invisible to Police and not immune to prosecution.”

Police, along with law enforcement partners, are continuing to expand investigative capabilities on dark net and other encrypted platforms.

ENDS.

Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

Source: New Zealand Police

District:

Source: New Zealand Police

State Highway 3, Kihikihi is closed near McGhie Road following a crash.

The two-vehicle crash was reported just after 2:30pm.

Initial indications are that there are serious injuries.

Diversions are in place at the intersection with Golf Road and Herbert Street.

Motorists are advised to avoid the area and expect delays.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Police

A man allegedly caught breaking into the shop at a petrol station in Glen Eden will now face court.

At about 2.30am, Police were notified of an alarm and fog cannon activation at a petrol station on West Coast Road.

A Police camera operator was then able to track a shirtless man acting in an erratic manner and eating food near the forecourt.

Waitematā West Area Prevention Manager, Acting Inspector Nick Salter, says upon arrival it was clear the business had been broken into.

“Police have arrived and the man has resisted arrest.

“He was subsequently OC sprayed, however he has then attempted to flee on foot and was apprehended by a Police dog.

“We will continue to hold such brazen offending to account.”

A 35-year-old man will appear in Waitākere District Court today charged with burglary and resisting Police.

ENDS.

Holly McKay/NZ Police