Category: Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Police have arrested five people after an aggravated burglary in Auckland’s Albany.

The group allegedly entered a store on The Avenue on Friday morning.

Police said the offenders were taking items when a fight broke out.

They said the store owner was assaulted and received minor injuries.

The offenders fled in a vehicle but were quickly found by police.

Four young men, aged between 17 and 21, have been charged with shoplifting.

A 21-year-old Manukau man has been charged with aggravated assault and shoplifting.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

More than half a million dollars of riches from organised crime could be stripped from a Wellington methamphetamine dealer after a court order, while his children also face seizures, police say.

A judge has granted a profit forfeiture order against Wayne Namana totalling $653,000 – the amount police calculated as the unlawful benefit he received from his offending.

“Wayne Namana lived the high life profiting from the drugs he pushed into the community, but a judge has brought his party to a close,” police said in a statement released on Saturday.

In 2019, Namana was sentenced to five years and seven months in jail after being charged with heading a network that sold and supplied methamphetamine in Wairarapa.

Another investigation, this one aimed at seizing Namana’s assets, was brought before Justice Dale La Hood on Friday.

La Hood granted a profit forfeiture order against the now 67-year-old Namana valued at $653,000.

“Methamphetamine causes serious harm to our communities, and has a particularly harmful impact in smaller communities, like the Wairarapa,” Detective Sergeant Macdonald said. “Police will continue to target organised crime offenders through both criminal and civil court jurisdictions,”

What is being seized from Wayne Namana?

So far, Namana has made a settlement valued at around $240,000, which will include forfeiting a property in Masterton, cash, money from bank accounts, seven vehicles, seven motorbikes, and a payment of $91,000, police said.

But he could still stand to lose around $400,000 more, if, or when, police identify other assets that could be seized, police said.

Detective Sergeant Alex Macdonald said Namana had enriched himself at the expense of the community, and said the result was a “significant win” against organised crime.

“Wayne Namana lined his pockets from misery and suffering… Users of the drugs that Namana pushed suffered, along with their families and the community,” Macdonald said.

“A massive amount of work went into tracking the profits he made and it’s satisfying being able to strip these assets from him. It’s a great day.”

Other people connected to Namana also face seizures

Two of Namana’s children were also convicted for involvement in his criminal syndicate, police said.

Chanel Namana was sentenced to six years and four months for her role in the drug dealing, while Merepeka Namana was sentenced to nine months home detention.

Profit Forfeiture Orders had been made against both of them.

While another man connected to the operation, Michael Hanna, has had a $5 million profit forfeiture order made against his assets.

Hanna was earlier convicted for supplying methamphetamine to the group, and was sentenced in 2019 to 12 years and eight months prison, police said.

A tool to ensure crime doesn’t pay – police

The court orders for seizures were made under the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act, which allows assets to be taken from people proved to have been involved in significant criminal activity. It includes powers to seize assets not proved to be directly connected to the crimes, but of equivalent value.

The act grants police and courts the power to reduce criminals gains and so works to reduce the temptation to commit crimes for profit, police said in the statement.

“The profit forfeiture orders issued in these proceedings demonstrate the [short-sightedness] of unlawful benefit received by the offenders,” Detective Sergeant Macdonald said.

“Police will continue to work to strip organised crime groups and their associates of their illegitimate wealth.”

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

By Noam Mānuka Lazarus, Massey University journalism student

A man who saved the life of a critically wounded stabbing victim is among 10 people being honoured in the New Zealand Bravery Awards.

Junior Fa’amalosi Isaako intervened in a violent attack and protected an injured man until help could arrive.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said Isaako’s “extraordinary act of bravery saved the victim’s life”.

Victim stabbed multiple times

Isaako was asleep at his home in Flaxmere, Hastings in June, when he was awoken in the morning by loud arguing.

Stepping outside he saw a man pin another against a vehicle across the road, stabbing him once in the back and twice in the back of the leg.

A second man joined in beating the injured man, kicking and punching him as he curled into a foetal position on the ground.

Isaako rushed to intervene in the bloody beating

Isaako rushed at the men, causing one to flee before putting the armed man into a hold, throwing him to the ground and restraining him.

As the man struggled to break free, Isaako disarmed him, hitting his arm into the road until the knife was dropped and he could throw the weapon clear of the struggle.

Once the attacker was subdued Isaako dragged the victim onto a grass verge – wrapping a towel around his leg wound to act as a tourniquet.

He applied pressure to the victim’s wounds and called emergency services.

When police arrived, he continued to assist the officers with first aid as an ambulance made its way to the scene.

The victim was stabilised and taken to Hawke’s Bay Hospital.

Police said a 39-year-old male offender was charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. He is scheduled to appear in Napier District Court on 27 January.

Isaako is one of 10 people being honoured at the 2025 New Zealand Bravery Awards on Saturday.

He and one other recipient – a 12-year-old boy whose actions saved his father from critical injuries – would be awarded the New Zealand Bravery Decoration, with eight others receiving the New Zealand Bravery Medal.

Luxon described each recipient of the awards as “the people we want close”.

“None of us know how we will react when a life is in danger but in these 10 cases, a brave person has disregarded their own safety to help a fellow human.

“In every single case, their actions have prevented further harm – and in many, lives have been saved only because they stepped in,” Luxon said.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

A motorbike rider has died following a crash in Northland.

Police said the single-vehicle crash occurred on State Highway 1 in Kaitaia at about 8.50pm on Friday.

The rider was taken to hospital in a critical condition but died soon after.

Police said a scene examination has taken place but a investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash was ongoing.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Sergeant Heath Courtenay Jones (left) with then Governor-General Sir Anand Satyanand after receiving the New Zealand Bravery Decoration on 29 June 2011.

A police officer who rescued a mother and two kids stranded on a roof during Cyclone Gabrielle has been commended for bravery.

Then, Detective Sergeant Heath Jones went on to cross a barb wire fence submerged in flood water to rescue an elderly couple.

He is one of eight people awarded the New Zealand Bravery Medal on Saturday.

Jones told RNZ’s Saturday Morning programme he was thankful and honoured to be recognised.

That day, while travelling to work, he only knew of the storm causing minor disruption – a few trees down, a few puddles, nothing too alarming.

Then the situation quickly became a concern.

“You get to work, and then you start hearing about cell phone coverage dropping, and river levels rising,” Jones said.

He and his colleague Detective Constable Jaime Stewart – who was last year’s Bravery Medal recipient – were deployed to the Pakowhai area near Hastings.

“We get to one particular bridge, and water’s very, very high, and then a call comes out that a colleague is in strife.”

The colleague was a woman stranded on her house roof with her four-year-old and her baby.

To get to them, Jones and Stewart had to cross waste deep, debris-filled, “fast-moving water”.

It was the first of two rescues that day.

“We passed two horses that we thought we’d probably come back and try and get them out, but the situation changed, and we were diverted to another situation.”

He noticed two elderly people who were trapped in chest-height water after walking a short distance from their vehicle that was nearly fully submerged.

They couldn’t swim and were fairly exhausted where they were, Jones said.

Jones entered the water to swim out to the couple, navigating a submerged barbed wire fence line to reach them.

“Through both rescues, the main concern was, if we lose footing, we are gone,” he said.

As well as emergency services, he credits the community for wanting to get out and help others during that time.

“So it’s not just about being a police officer,” he said, “but, [if] someone’s in trouble, I suppose that’s one reason why you do join the police, is so that you can help others.”

Five of eight people who received a Bravery Medal were police officers. A further two are recipients of the New Zealand Bravery Decoration.

In 2011, Jones was awarded the New Zealand Bravery Decoration after being one of the first officers to arrive at the scene of the 2009 Napier Siege where Senior Constable Len Snee was fatally shot. Three others were wounded.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

By Noam Mānuka Lazarus (Ngāti Whātua), Massey University journalism student

Predator Free Wellington said its efforts to eliminate predators have led to a doubling of native bird life in the Miramar Peninsula.

In its annual report, the group said the number of kōtare (kingfisher) observed had increased by 550 percent, pīwakawaka (fantail) by 400 percent, riroriro (grey warbler) by 283 percent, and tūi by 210 percent.

The report also suggested strong numbers of kākā, kārearea, kākāriki and ruru.

It found that the total of native birds in the area had increased by 136 percent.

Predator Free Wellington (PFW) project director James Willcocks said phase one and two of its projects, along with other initiatives like Capital Kiwi and Zealandia, were demonstrating that introduced predators could be eliminated from urban areas.

Seatoun, Lyall Bay, Breaker Bay, Miramar, Ōwhiro Bay, Kilbirnie, Rongotai and Hataitai were just some of the areas cleared during the first phase.

These areas were still maintained using a barrier system – involving over 1000 traps and bait stations – which blocked out pests from safe zones.

The report also revealed successful testing of H2Zero prototype bait stations, provided by Zero Invasive Predators.

Whilst standard bait stations required fortnightly visits and maintanence, these new units could run for three months between services.

This reduced the required visits by PFW volunteers to bait stations by 85 percent.

“This isn’t just about speed. It’s about precision. We’re placing devices where rats actually are, rather than blanketing entire areas and hoping for the best,” Willcocks said.

He said results like these did not happen by accident, they were funded.

“I would say it’s no longer a technical challenge. It becomes an economic challenge, right? Do we have the money to pay for it and do we want to pay for it.”

The PFW relied on its 164 volunteers checking bait stations and cameras around Pōneke.

It said 2200 more continued to check PFW stations within their own backyards and reserves across Wellington.

Eleanor Nugent, a PFW community ranger, said fulfilling her sense of kaitiakitanga was a core reason for why she volunteered.

“This is such an amazing outlet that’s not only helping the planet, but is also such a special community of people who get to express their want to do good.”

She said the volunteers were people from all different walks of life.

Willcocks said funding from central government would realise PFW’s ‘phase three’ plans.

This phase would make the Wellington CBD, Parliament, and 1200 hectares in the Te Kopaho reserve pest-free.

The reserve is off the bottom of Zealandia, and would increase that pest-free area by fivefold.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

A homicide investigation is underway after a man’s death in Rotorua overnight.

In a statement, Detective Inspector Lew Warner said officers were called to Ford Road about 8.30pm on Friday after receiving reports of a vehicle crashing into a tree.

The only person in the car was found critically injured and died shortly after.

Warner said early inquiries suggest the injuries the person had “are not consistent with a crash” and the public’s help is wanted.

“We want to hear from anybody who was in or around Ford Road between 8pm and 8.40pm yesterday.

“Additionally, anybody who saw a white Toyota Hiace van, registration DFR734 in Ford Road or the surrounding areas.”

People can call police on 105, and reference file number 251212/4041

“Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.”

Police will be carrying out a forensic examination of the scene and vehicle.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

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