NZ Engine

Source: New Zealand Police

Police are disappointed in a group’s actions after toy guns were brandished at members of the public at a night market last night.

At around 10.40pm, Police received a report of youths pointing a firearm at a bus driver at Botany Town Centre.

With the group believed to be in possession of a firearm, Counties Manukau East Area Commander, Inspector Rod Honan, says an armed response was initiated.

“Given the information, our staff were armed, and on arrival officers swiftly located a group of five youths who were taken into custody,” Inspector Honan says.

The group had discarded the firearm prior to Police arrival, and a search of the area located the gun, which was confirmed to be a plastic imitation gel blaster.

A second imitation gel blaster was found in a backpack belonging to one of the young people, along with a small quantity of cannabis. These items have been seized.

“As officers pieced together the events of the evening, it was revealed the group had pointed the imitation firearms at two other members of the public.”

The victim also revealed that when the group discarded the gun, another member of the public picked it up and pointed it at them. 

This person, a 38-year-old man, was located and taken into custody.

Inspector Honan says this is a timely reminder that presenting a firearm will initiate a strong response from Police and can result in charges, even if it’s a replica.

“Police take any report of the presence of firearms in the community very seriously.

“The group’s actions last night showed a complete lack of common sense.

“Police would like to remind the public that it is an offence under the Arms Act to possess or use an imitation firearm without a lawful, proper and sufficient purpose.”

Five youths were taken to Ormiston Police Station where they were spoken to before being released.

A 38-year-old man was arrested for breaching his release conditions.

ENDS

Frankie Le Roy/NZ Police

Source: New Zealand Police

Police can now release the name of the child who died following a crash in East Tāmaki on 15 March.

She was Isabella Tulumi, 9, of Auckland.

Police extend our deepest sympathies to her family and loved ones.

Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.

ENDS.

Holly McKay/NZ Police

Source: Auckland Council

The bi-annual test of the two tsunami sirens at Ōrewa will take place on the last day of daylight saving on Sunday 5 April, 2026, at midday.

Adam Maggs, General Manager of Auckland Emergency Management reassures Ōrewa locals that the siren sound they’ll hear on 5 April is a test and no action is required from the public.

“We carry out tests each year on the sirens to ensure they are working properly. No action is required from the public and there’s no cause for alarm during the testing,” Mr Maggs says.

Located at Ōrewa beach, the sirens give a combination of alert sounds and voice instructions advising what actions residents should take in a real emergency. You can check and listen to the siren sound sample on the Auckland Emergency Management website.

Ōrewa is the only location in the Auckland region which has tsunami sirens following the decommissioning of sirens at other sites in December 2023 due to vandalism, theft and outdated technology, making them unreliable as part of our tsunami alerting system. The two sirens at Ōrewa (installed in 2020) are newer than the decommissioned sirens and haven’t suffered vandalism or thefts.

The test at Ōrewa is also a good prompt to remind all Aucklanders that there will be timely communication in the event of a tsunami threat.

“An Emergency Mobile Alert (EMA) is the primary way of alerting the public to a tsunami threat. An EMA will be broadcast to all capable mobile phones in the event of a tsunami threat. News media and social media channels will be used to alert Aucklanders as well,”Mr Maggs says.

What are the natural warning signs for tsunami?  

If you are near the shore and experience any of the following, take action. Do not wait for official warnings. 

• Feel a strong earthquake that makes it hard to stand or a long earthquake that lasts more than a minute
• See a sudden rise or fall in sea level
• Hear loud or unusual noises from the sea.

Remember! If an earthquake is LONG or STRONG, GET GONE and move to higher ground. 

Be prepared  

Prepare your household emergency plan and practice it so everyone knows what to do in an emergency and what you need to take if you are evacuating.  

Check out Auckland’s Hazard Viewer for updated tsunami evacuation maps.

Check the tsunami preparedness tips and what to do before, during and after a tsunami.  

Source: Green Party

The Green Party has released data showing 9000 students across more than 70 schools and pre-schools faced unsafe drinking water in 2025, with water breaching safe Drinking Water Standards at some point during the year. 

“No child should face a health risk from the water coming out of a drinking fountain at their school. The data paints a troubling picture of the state of drinking water in Aotearoa,” says Green Party Co-leader Marama Davidson. 

“While many of these schools had treatment systems in place, for whatever reason the treatment has failed.” 

“Drinking water standards set safe limits for things like bacteria, chemicals, and other contaminants in drinking water, which must be met at all points in a water system after treatment.” 

“When a school’s water is found to be unsafe, drinking fountains are shut down, children are told to bring water bottles from home, and in serious cases schools may have to close. Children should be focused on learning not worrying about whether their water is safe.” 

According to the Minister of Education, no additional treatment barriers were installed at any of the schools in 2025 and there is no estimate of the cost to bring drinking water treatment facilities at those schools where ‘do not drink’ notices were issued in 2025 up to a standard where water is safe and reliable. 

“Schools should have all the resources they need to provide safe drinking water. Instead, the Government installed no new treatment systems at any of these schools in 2025 and cannot even tell us what it would cost to fix the problem.” 

The data follows an earlier 2024 report by Taumata Arowai which found a “stubbornly high” 71 schools reported at least one incidence of E. coli in their drinking water that year, meaning faecal contamination was present. 

“The data reinforces why the protection of drinking water at its source, in rivers, lakes, and groundwater, must be a priority.” 

“Almost all New Zealanders get their drinking water from a river, lake, or underground aquifer. If we protect those sources from pollution, we can be far more confident that what comes out of the tap is safe, even when something goes wrong at a treatment plant.” 

“Keeping source water clean also avoids the enormous cost of removing contaminants like nitrate and sediment, which are extremely difficult and expensive to treat, particularly for smaller towns and communities.” 

Green Party environment spokesperson Lan Pham has called for the Government to learn the lessons of the Havelock North Drinking Water Inquiry. 

“The Havelock North Drinking Water Inquiry was clear that source protection should be treated as a matter of national importance in resource management law,” said Pham. 

“The Inquiry found that protecting the source of drinking water provides the first and most significant barrier against contamination and illness.” 

“Despite those recommendations, the Government’s resource management overhaul only requires decision-makers to ‘have regard to’ effects on drinking water quality. That falls well short of what the Inquiry called for.” 

“If this Government were serious about keeping our water safe, they would be enshrining source protection in law.” 

In answers to written questions, the Minister of Education confirmed she was not aware of ‘Do Not Drink’ notices that had been issued at schools in 2025, had received no advice on water quality at the affected schools, had no estimate of the cost to fix the issue, and had not corresponded with the Ministers for Local Government or Health about the matter. 

“The Minister is treating this as someone else’s problem. Parents sending their kids to school have a right to expect that the water is safe. They deserve a Government that takes that seriously,” says Davidson.

Source: New Zealand Police

The eastbound lane of Whitford Road is blocked following a single vehicle crash this morning.

Emergency services were called to Whitford Road, Whitford at 7.20am

One person has been taken to hospital in a serious condition.

Motorists are advised to expect delays.

ENDS

Frankie Le Roy/NZ Police

Source: New Zealand Police

State Highway 5 in Tahorakuri Forest is closed following a two-vehicle crash.

Emergency services were alerted to the incident around 7.07am.

Injuries are reported.

The Serious Crash Unit have been advised.

Road closures are in place from Ohaaki Road to Te Toke Road.

Motorists should choose alternative routes to travel in the area as emergency services work at the scene.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre