NZ Engine

Source: New Zealand Police

Please attribute to Herby Ngawhika, Rotorua Area Commander:

Police are pleased to report no significant issues following a tangi in Rotorua today.

There was an increased visible Police presence in the Ōwhata area across the day, monitoring the movements of those in attendance, as well as ensuring the safety of all other road users. There were over 160 vehicles in the funeral procession.

Police’s response today focused on ensuring the safety and wellbeing of the public, while also respectfully allowing mourners the space to grieve. Attendees had been advised through an intermediary as to the behaviours that would not be tolerated.

Our Police operation utilised a Gang Conflict Warrant that is in place for Rotorua as a result of heightened gang tensions. This Warrant will remain in place for a number of days to come. 

The operation resulted in a number of vehicles being stopped throughout the day. 10 arrests were made, and another person was summonsed to court.

All those charged were Mongrel Mob members from Rotorua, the Hawke’s Bay and Kawerau. Four of the people arrested had warrants for their arrests, and a further two were arrested for breaching bail conditions. These conditions included not to associate with gang members of a particular chapter, and not to be in possession of gang insignia in a public place.

Other arrests included possession of gang insignia in a public place, possession of an offensive weapon, and possession of methamphetamine. Police also seized one gang patch under the Gangs Act 2024. 

Two people were charged with driving whilst disqualified or suspended, and two vehicles were impounded. 

We would like to thank the members of the public for their patience and understanding on the roads today.

Police will continue to maintain a highly visible presence in the Ōwhata and Hannahs Bay areas through the afternoon and overnight.

We encourage anybody to report any instances of unlawful activity on the roads, so appropriate follow-up action can be taken where necessary.

Please call 111 if you witness any unlawful activity happening now, or 105 if it is after the fact, with as much information as you can safely gather.

Information can also be reported anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Police

Police can confirm one person has died following a crash in Ruatoki earlier this afternoon.

Just after 3pm, emergency services were called to Ruatoki Valley Road at the intersection with Number 1 Road, after a school bus and a motorcycle collided.

Sadly, the motorcyclist died at the scene.

No other injuries were reported.

The road remains closed while the Serious Crash Unit conduct a scene examination.

Detours are in place and motorists are advised to expect continued delays.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Police

Police can confirm the name of the man who died after being brought into Rotorua Hospital with critical injuries.

He was Zain Matenga Taikato-Fox, 20, from Rotorua.

Police offer our condolences to his family and friends during this difficult time.

Police are continuing to work to establish the circumstances leading to the man’s injuries.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Police

Infringements, breath tests, arrests, and impounds, are some of the results from an operation targeting antisocial road user behaviour in the Bay of Plenty and Waikato Districts.

Rotorua Area Prevention Manager, Inspector Phil Gillbanks says Police’s increased presence put a damper on any plans that participants had to congregate on Saturday night.

“Our visibility and enforcement meant we were able to disrupt any behaviour before they were able to participate in any antisocial road user behaviours.”

In Rotorua, 51 infringement offence notices were issued, including some for excess speed. Another five non-operation orders were also issued, and a total of 11 drivers were forbidden to drive.

Police seized a number of wheels and tyres brought to specifically support drivers engaging in antisocial road user behaviour, with Bay of Plenty prosecutions summoning two people to Court for preparing to commit a crime. Their vehicles were also impounded.

More than 350 breath tests were completed throughout the night, all with negative results for excess breath alcohol.

During the operation in Hamilton, one person was arrested and charged for possession of cannabis, and two others were arrested for being parties to an offence.

Police issued 63 infringement offence notices and six non-operation orders. Two vehicles were also impounded for their participation in antisocial road user behaviour.

Over 780 breath tests were conducted, five of which returned positive results for excess breath alcohol.

A Hamilton man was also summonsed to Court after having been identified to have participated in a previous road user gathering.

In both areas, Police established checkpoints around the planned gatherings, ensuring drivers would be intercepted while leaving the area.

Inspector Gillbanks says this operation clearly shoes that no matter where antisocial road users plan to be, Police will be there.

“Staff from both districts worked cohesively and as one, using decisive zero tolerance action to intercept and disrupt the antisocial road user behaviour in our respective areas.”

Waikato Road Policing, Senior Sergeant John McCarthy says Police is committed to ensuring those participating in antisocial road user behaviour are held to account.

“Not only does this keep nearby residents awake and damage roads, but it places drivers, passengers, bystanders, and other motorists at extreme risk.”

Both districts will continue to focus on this unlawful activity and work together to hold those responsible for this behaviour accountable.

Police ask members of the public to report antisocial road user activity to us, with as much information as safely possible.

We need your help preventing and responding to the activity, and in cases where we cannot immediately respond, allows us to follow up with drivers and take later enforcement action.

You can report information to us by calling 111 if it is happening now, or through 105 for non-emergencies.

Alternatively, you can report information anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Police

Police can now release the name of the man who died following a crash on State Highway 1, Wairakei on Saturday 19 July.

He was Travis Edward Simmonds, 53, of Napier.

Police extend sympathies to Travis’s family and friends.

Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Police

An earlier release stated this investigation was a homicide investigation, that is not correct.

We ask media to please update any stories to reflect this.

Please attribute to Detective Inspector Lindsay Pilbrow:

Rotorua Police have commenced an investigation after a man was taken to Rotorua hospital with critical injuries on Saturday night and subsequently passed away.

Police were alerted at 7.10pm that the man had been brought to Rotorua Hospital by four other men, who advised they had located him injured on a roadside.  The man passed away a short time later.

Police are working to establish the circumstances leading to the man’s injuries, including speaking to the four men who took the 20-year-old victim to the hospital.

Police would like to hear from anybody who may have witnessed any type of motor vehicle incident on Saturday night between 5pm and 7pm on SH33 between Paengaroa and Rotorua.

If anyone has information which could assist the police investigation, we ask that they contact us via 105 and quote file number 250726/5566.

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

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Police

Police can now release the name of the child who died following a crash on State Highway 1, Motutere on Saturday 4 July.

He was Jax Tauroa Wall, aged 10.

Police extend our deepest sympathies to Jax’s family and loved ones.

Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre. 

Source: New Zealand Police

Police can now release the name of the man who died following a crash on Station Road, on 8 June.

He was Mapu Titoko, 54, of Whakatane.

Police extend sympathies to Mapu’s family and friends.

Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.

ENDS

Issued by the Police Media Centre.

Source: New Zealand Police

A person has been charged in relation to an incident on Queen Street in Auckland this morning, where two pedestrians were struck by a car.

The 17-year-old male has been charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and injuring with intent.

He is scheduled to appear in Auckland Youth Court on 4 August.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre. 

Source: New Zealand Police

A man is before the courts facing a multitude of charges relating to residential burglaries in Auckland, where an estimated $2 million worth of property had been stolen.

Detective Sergeant Amanda Reed says the Glen Innes Tactical Crime Unit has been collecting evidence and information in relation to the 51-year-old’s movements for several months. On Friday, Police were successful in intercepting a further burglary attempt.

“Just after 6pm, Police sighted a vehicle belonging to the man travelling on Shore Road, Remuera. Based off enquiries made into his movements in recent months, it was believed that he was on his way to commit another burglary.

Extra Police units were deployed, along with assistance overhead from the Police Eagle helicopter. The man continued to drive towards Waterview, as Police maintained sight of the vehicle from a distance.

As the vehicle turned into a service station, his vehicle was blocked in by a number of Police vehicles. The man was taken into custody without further incident. Upon searching his vehicle, a number of tools were located, which Police believe are used to assist him with his offending.

“It is alleged that the man has committed in excess of 50 residential burglaries through the North Shore, Remuera and Sunnyhills areas over the last two years,” says Detective Sergeant Reed.

While enquiries continue into the man’s alleged offending, Police estimate he has stolen an estimated $2 million worth of property.

He is due to appear in the Auckland District Court on Monday 4 August, charged with seven counts of burglary. Further charges have not been ruled out.

“This is a significant result for the team, not only because this is someone who we’ve been keeping an eye on for a lengthy period of time, but also due to the large scale of his offending”, says Detective Sergeant Reed.

Further enquiries into the man’s offending are ongoing, and Police are hopeful that some of the stolen property can be recovered and returned to its rightful owners.

“We hope this result comes as a relief to his victims, and that both the North Shore and Remuera communities feel some reassurance knowing a prolific offender is off the street.”

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre