Category: MIL-OSI

Source: New Zealand Police

Electric dirt bikes are creating serious concerns for Police, with the vehicles featuring in a growing number of crashes and cases of illegal riding.

In most instances, the bikes, which can exceed 80kmh, are required to be registered. That comes as a shock to many of the riders who Police speak to, says Senior Sergeant Wayne Hunter, the Area Road Policing Manager for Western Bay of Plenty.

“We’ve seen people riding dangerously and crashes involving pedestrians and vehicles, and people need to realise that just because these dirt bikes are electric, it doesn’t mean they are allowed on the road.”

“Ignorance won’t protect you from fines or having your dirt bike confiscated, and Police are routinely stopping riders on electric dirt bikes to make sure both the bike and the rider are compliant with the law.”

It comes as the vehicles gain popularity.

“We’re now dealing with roughly four cases involving electric dirtbikes a week and people have been hurt. Currently one e bike has been impounded for dangerous riding and the cost to retrieve the e bike after the 28 days impound was $900.

“Two others have received injuries after colliding with cars and numerous riders have received infringements. If you have one of these bikes, you need to know where you can and can’t ride it, the same responsibilities as any motorist.”

You need a valid driver’s licence if:

• The electric motor exceeds 300 watts (not kilowatts)
• The bike is capable of speeds over 50kmh
• The bike does not have pedals (i.e., it cannot be classified as a power-assisted cycle).

The bike needs a Warrant of Fitness and registration if:

• If it can exceed 50kmh: It must be registered as a motorcycle
• If it cannot exceed 50kmh: It may be registered as a moped
• In both cases, the vehicle must be entry certified and meet roadworthy standards
• A Warrant of Fitness is required unless exempted (e.g., some mopeds).

Electric dirt bikes are not bicycles if:

• They lack pedals
• They have motors exceeding 300 watts
• They are capable of autonomous propulsion without rider input.
•  

ENDS 

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Government

Christchurch City Council has met its Housing Growth Target and is therefore able to withdraw part of Plan Change 14, RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop says.

“Christchurch City Council’s Plan Change 14 (PC14) was notified in March 2023, and was designed to update the city’s planning rules to reflect national housing and urban development direction.

“In particular, PC14 incorporated the Medium Density Residential Standards (MDRS) and requirements of the National Policy Statement on Urban Development (NPS-UD), aiming to make it easier to build more homes across the city.

“Like Auckland, Christchurch argued strongly that the one-size-fits-all approach of the MDRS wasn’t the right approach. In August, Parliament passed the Resource Management (Consenting and Other System Changes Bill) allowing Christchurch to withdraw PC14, provided the Council could prove they had provided for 30 years of sufficient feasible housing capacity, with a 20 per cent contingency margin.

“Based on advice from officials, including two peer reviews provided by the Council from Urbanomics and Sense Partners, I have decided that the Council has met this requirement.

“Christchurch City Council has confirmed its housing plan provides for future growth, with modelling showing plan enabled feasible housing capacity for at least 68,200 homes, exceeding the 65,640 homes needed to meet the statutory requirement for 30 years of adjusted demand.

“Christchurch is a vibrant, fast-growing city that’s booming with energy and opportunity.

“People are flocking to Christchurch for the lifestyle, the jobs, the culture, and the buzz of a city that’s really coming into its own. With the new Te Kaha stadium nearing completion, thriving universities, and the vibrant city centre hospitality scene, Christchurch needs more homes in the right places to keep pace with its growth.

“Freeing up land for development by removing unnecessary planning barriers is essential to increasing housing supply. The evidence is clear that more housing capacity leads to more homes being built, which helps bring down rents and make housing more affordable. The Council has delivered on this, and it’s a great result for the city.

“Ministerial decisions are still pending on two heritage sites, Antonio Hall and Daresbury, and a special character area around Piko Crescent. These will be considered in the coming months.”

Editor’s note:

PC14 was introduced by the Council in March 2023 to give effect to the National Policy Statement on Urban Development 2020 (NPS-UD) and implement the medium density residential standards (MDRS).  

The Minister’s decision-making process is set out in clause 11, Schedule 3C of the RMA: Schedule 3C Alternative intensification provisions for Auckland and Christchurch

The Council notified PC14 in March 2023. Public submissions on the proposals were sought between March and May 2023, with an Independent Hearings Panel (IHP) holding hearings in October and November 2023, and April 2024. The IHP presented its decisions to the Council on 29 July 2024.

The Council completed the parts of PC 14 that implemented the NPS-UD on 2 December 2024.

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

Source: New Zealand Police

Please attribute to Sergeant Steven Jones, Waikato Road Policing,

Police are appealing for information from the public following a fatal crash in the Waipa District on Saturday 18 October.

Emergency services were notified of the crash on Te Pahu Road just after 11am involving a motorcycle that appears to have left the road between Whatawhata and Te Pahu.

One person received serious injuries and was transported to hospital, however sadly died in hospital in the days following the crash.

The crash is believed to have occurred during a group ride, involving a number of motorcycles travelling around the area.

Police would like to hear from anyone who may have witnessed the crash, or who may have dashcam footage around the time of the incident.

If you have information that may assist in our investigation, please contact Police online at 105.police.govt.nz, clicking “Update Report” or by calling 105.

Please use the reference number 251020/0479.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Police

Police are disappointed in the actions of a minority of league fans during the final weekend of the Pacific Rugby League Championship.

To ensure celebrations were safe and lawful, additonal Police staff were deployed to Ōtāhuhu, Māngere, Ōtara and Clendon as fans took to the streets.

Counties Manukau District Commander, Superintendent Shanan Gray, says fans turned out in their hundreds causing congestions on roads and surrounding areas.

“Police would like to thank the majority who celebrated peacefully and lawfully,” he says.

“However, it’s disappointing to see that there were a number of individuals choosing to behave poorly, putting themselves and other members of the public at risk.”

Over the course of the weekend, Police saw a range of unlawful behaviours including people riding on top of vehicles, children dancing in live traffic lanes, and vehicles doing burnouts.

As a result, 31 arrests were made and Police issued 225 infringement notices for breaches of liquor bans, as well as driving and other road related offences.

Police also impounded six vehicles, and 15 people were summonsed to court for driving with excess breath alcohol.

“We recognise the right for people to gather and celebrate in our communities” Superintendent Gray says.

“However, this should not be at the expense of other people’s safety or enjoyment.”

ENDS.

Amanda Wieneke/NZ Police

Source: New Zealand Government

Expressions of interest open today for graduate doctors keen to gain hands-on experience in general practice and other community-based settings across New Zealand, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.

“Primary care is the cornerstone of our health system, but New Zealand has a shortage of family doctors, who play a vital role in keeping people well and out of emergency departments,” Mr Brown says.

“Providing opportunities for graduate doctors to receive clinical supervision in a primary care environment is a key part of our plan to increase GP numbers.”

Funded by the Government in Budget 2025 as part of the Primary Care Tactical Action Plan, the primary care pathway allocates $23.3 million over four years to introduce a funded pathway to registration for New Zealand-trained graduate doctors.

“This funding will support up to 50 graduate doctors each year, with a greater proportion of their time spent in primary care providers rather than hospitals – giving doctors meaningful experience working in communities.”

The pathway includes general practice and may also involve urgent care and rural hospitals. These extended placements are designed to build clinical breadth, strengthen system-wide understanding, and provide meaningful experience of the unique challenges and rewards of community-based care.

“Talented graduate doctors with an interest in primary care will be given an extended opportunity to pursue that interest, working in communities right across the country.

“Our goal is to give early-career doctors a real taste of community medicine while encouraging more to consider primary care as a long-term career. A stronger health workforce that we can retain is critical to ensuring all New Zealanders have access to timely, quality healthcare.

“We want everyone to be able to see a GP when they need one, regardless of where they live. This pathway is a meaningful step toward that goal.”

Source: New Zealand Police

Attributable to Sergeant Tracy Haggart, Queenstown Acting Response Manager,

Queenstown Police are appealing for information from the public following a burglary in Remarkables Park.

At around 2.15am today, Police were alerted to a burglary at a commercial premises at the intersection of Tex Smith Lane and Hawthorne Drive.

A stolen vehicle has been used to unlawfully enter the premises, where two offenders have taken around $900 of alcohol.

The offenders have fled the area, travelling to Kelvin Height Peninsula, where the vehicle was located abandoned and submerged in Lake Whakatipu at around 2.30am.

Police are working with Coastguard Queenstown and Queenstown Lakes District Council to retrieve the vehicle.

Enquiries into the incident are ongoing, and Police are appealing for information from the public to assist in our investigation.

Police would like to hear from anyone with CCTV or dashcam footage between 2am and 2.40am on Monday 10 November around the Remarkables Park and Kelvin Heights areas.

Police also ask anyone who may have any information about the incident to please contact us.

Members of the public may see an increase in reassurance patrols in and around commercial business areas while our enquiries are ongoing.

If you have any information, CCTV, or dashcam footage that may assist in our enquiries, please contact us online through 105.police.govt.nz, clicking “Update Report” or by calling 105.

Please use the reference number P064408540.

Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 0800 555 111.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

Patience, care and attention will be needed on the roads in and around Canterbury over the next week as a busy schedule of events leads into a long weekend with many holidaymakers travelling.

New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) is encouraging those travelling out of the region for the Canterbury Anniversary weekend to plan ahead, build extra time into their journeys and expect delays at times.

“We all know the highways leading in and out of Canterbury are going to be busier as people head away for the long weekend, and as many return home on Sunday or around that time,” says NZTA system manager for the central South Island, Mark Pinner.  

“But people should also be aware that they may encounter roadworks on the highways that are part of the busy spring/summer roading maintenance programmes, with some of these worksites remaining in place over the long weekend. The work is essential to keep the highways in good condition for all road users, but it may mean having to stop on demand or slowing for temporary speed limit reductions at work sites.”

“We want holidaymakers to get where they are going safely, so we ask motorists to show patience and drive carefully around any roadworks. Road users can find out what to expect on the state highways at our Journey Planner site, or at the latest of our planned roadworks newsletters:

This week in Christchurch, NZ Cup Week 2025 and the Royal A&P Show of New Zealand are expected to attract thousands of visitors, and this extra activity means more people on the roads.

“In addition to more traffic on local city streets, we are likely to see higher volumes of traffic on State Highways 73, 75 and 76 that run past hubs of activity such as the Addington Raceway & Events Centre, and the Canterbury Park A&P Showgrounds,” Mr Pinner says.

“Again, it is easy to get frustrated with more traffic on the roads and longer wait times but planning ahead and avoiding known hot spots where possible will go a long way to making life easier on the roads.” 

On Sunday night (16 November), work will begin on installing the top and final layer of asphalt on sections of SH75/Halswell Road and Aidanfield Drive. This will mean closures of SH75/Halswell Road (between Dunbars Road and Augustine Drive/Monsaraz Boulevard), and Aidanfield Drive (between Halswell Road and Bibiana Street/Euphrasie Drive).

Starting Sunday night, the road closures will run from 6pm to 7am for the northbound lane, and from 7pm to 7am for the southbound lane, of the affected section of SH75/Halswell Road. The affected section of Aidanfield Drive will also close. The closures are expected to continue nightly for about a week. 

Beyond this, more activity and events leading into the Christmas/New Year period will also mean more to deal with on the roads. On Sunday 23 November, the VIP Frames & Trusses Christmas Show Parade is due to be held at the Canterbury Park A&P Showgrounds.

“State Highway 75 will again be busy around this event, and in addition there will be convoys of Christmas floats moving between the Queen Elizabeth II Park and the Agricultural Park, on State Highways 74 Anzac Drive/Dyers Rd, SH74A Palinurus Road/Rutherford Street/Garlands Rd, and SH76 Brougham St in the morning and evening,” Mr Pinner says.

Source: Maritime New Zealand

We’re proud to honour New Zealand’s responsibilities under the Maritime Labour Convention to support the welfare of international seafarers in our ports.

Source: New Zealand Police

Location:

Images(s):