Category: Public Media

Source: Radio New Zealand

A crane operator who was killed as he delivered timber had earlier raised concerns with his employer about how close the power lines were.

Wesley Talakai, 38, struck live lines with his truck-mounted crane outside a house building site in Greenhithe, northwest Auckland, in August 2023.

Worksafe says the crane was just 2.5m from the lines, when the legal minimum is four.

“Mr Talakai raised concerns with his employer, NZ Solid, about limited space at the site and proximity to overhead power lines, however the company gave him a gate code to access the site and continue the work,” said the agency on its website. https://www.worksafe.govt.nz/about-us/news-and-media/delivery-death-underscores-power-line-hazards/

“NZ Solid did not obtain consent from the line owner to work within that distance.”

Worksafe quoted from a victim impact statement, in which Natasha Talakai told the court that the time since her husband’s death had been “excruciatingly difficult, exhausting, painful, and lonely”.

Its investigation found serious failures including relying on verbal instructions, an inadequate lifting plan and failing to properly assess the risks.

Planning a job and “never assuming it’ll be fine” were important, said regional manager Brad Duggan.

Judge Fitzgibbon suppressed the amount of reparations ordered.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Warning: This story discusses suicide.

Police are revealing more information about the deaths of three children and their father after a house fire being investigated as a murder-suicide.

Manawatū Area Commander Inspector Ross Grantham is speaking to media in Palmerston North at 2.30pm.

The three children killed on Saturday, were identified on a page set up by the loved ones of their mother as August, Hugo and Goldie, aged 7, 5 and 1.

The Givealittle page has since raised more than $158,000 for their mother as she dealt with the “unimaginable loss”.

“They were the light and love of her life, and her entire world has been shattered,” the Givealittle page said.

“In the midst of this unimaginable grief, she also lost her home and everything she owned. She is facing the hardest journey possible, stripped of her physical security, while navigating the deepest emotional pain.”

The search for the body of one of the children is still ongoing, police said.

The bodies of two children were recovered on Sunday night and were blessed by the family with karakia.

The body of the adult was removed earlier. Manawatu Area Commander Inspector Ross Grantham confirmed to Morning Report it was the children’s father, which RNZ understood was Dean Field.

He said it was too early to tell yet if the fire was deliberately started.

“It’s pretty risky with the part of the structure still there and the the dust that’s generated from the fire, so it will take us some time just to go through and establish what’s happened.”

Grantham said police were not seeking information from the public at this stage, but if anyone knew anything, they could “reach out”.

He said it was “unusual” for a house fire to begin in the afternoon.

Where to get help:

• Need to Talk? Free call or text 1737 any time to speak to a trained counsellor, for any reason.
• Lifeline: 0800 543 354 or text HELP to 4357.
• Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 / 0508 TAUTOKO. This is a service for people who may be thinking about suicide, or those who are concerned about family or friends.
• Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757 or text 4202.
• Samaritans: 0800 726 666.
• Youthline: 0800 376 633 or text 234 or email talk@youthline.co.nz.
• What’s Up: 0800 WHATSUP / 0800 9428 787. This is free counselling for 5 to 19-year-olds.
• Asian Family Services: 0800 862 342 or text 832. Languages spoken: Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese, Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi, and English.
• Rural Support Trust Helpline: 0800 787 254.
• Healthline: 0800 611 116.
• Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155.
• OUTLine: 0800 688 5463.

If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

The Navy has joined the search for a missing fisherman in Northland.

A boat with two people on board at Pataua South was reported overdue on Friday night and found adrift the next morning with nobody on it.

The body of one fisherman was found a short time later.

There has been a large-scale search by sea and by air for the second fisherman.

Police, the National Dive Squad, Search and Rescue and Navy crews were back on the water on Monday morning.

The public is being urged to call 111 if they see anything unusual in the water.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Four businesses have been ram-raided or fire-damaged in a small seaside village north of Auckland in the past three months, but police say so far no arrests have been made.

Officers launched Operation Governor after a deliberately lit fire at Orewa’s Sunflour Cafe left the interior of the building destroyed.

Several fire crews responded to the blaze at Sunflour shortly before 11.30pm on 1 November.

It was the latest in a series of businesses targeted on the main strip of the coastal town of Orewa, going back to September.

The first was between 21 September and 22 at takeaway business Bossburger. Images posted to social media showed the front of the store smashed in.

It was followed by a burglary and arson reported at the Shoreward Gastrobar in the early hours of 30 September.

It was understood the offenders drove a vehicle into the bar, before setting fire to the premises and fleeing on foot, police said.

Members of the public extinguished the fire before officers arrived at the scene.

“In both incidents, we are not aware of any items being stolen from these businesses,” police said.

Police told RNZ the Operation Governor investigation continued, and could not comment further.

Both businesses, and the local business association Destination Orewa, also declined to comment.

Waitematā North area commander Inspector John Thornley said previously attacks on local businesses would not be tolerated.

“These arsons are not only damaging property, but it’s affecting peoples’ livelihoods, and police is open-minded about whether any of these incidents are linked,” he said.

Thornley said they would be engaging with the public over the coming days, and they could expect a larger police presence in the area.

“We want to hear about any suspicious activity that people might have seen on Saturday night.

“I’m asking anyone with dashcam footage around the Ōrewa township, between 10pm and midnight, on Saturday 1 November to make themselves known to the investigation team.”

“No piece of information is too small, so please come forward as soon as possible.”

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

A man on the run for more than a week has been found and charged with escaping custody.

The 42-year-old Mt Eden remand prisoner, who was in handcuffs, got free during a hospital escort on 7 November.

He has now been arrested and will appear in the North Shore District Court on Monday.

The Department of Corrections earlier said that any escape is unacceptable.

A review is underway.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

A man has died at a popular Auckland beach.

Police were alerted at midday on Monday that a person was unresponsive in the water and had been pulled onto Takapuna Beach.

Officers gave medical help but he could not be revived.

The death will be referred to the coroner.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand