NZ Engine

Source: New Zealand Police

Police have discovered a raft of weapons and drug paraphyllia following a search warrant at a Takapuna property yesterday.

Investigators looking into an incident involving threatening behaviour attended an address on Karaka Street yesterday to make an arrest.

Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Williams, Waitematā CIB, says upon arrival officers located a number of items of interest.

“During a search of the address Police located an antique pistol, BB gun, Class B controlled drug ketamine, scales, drug paraphernalia, a hunting knife, three other knives and a set of knuckle dusters.

“Police also located what appeared to be a small IED so staff and nearby residents were evacuated as a precaution.”

Detective Senior Sergeant Williams says it was a pleasing result.

“Taking weapons and drugs off our streets makes everyone safer.

“Our message is clear – drug dealing and being in possession of firearms and other dangerous weapons isn’t welcome here.”

A 20-year-old man will appear in North Shore District Court today charged with two counts of threatening to kill, possession of an offensive weapon, presenting an object like a firearm, unlawful possession of an explosive, and possession for supply (not cannabis).

Police have opposed the man’s bail.

ENDS.

Holly McKay/NZ Police

Source: New Zealand Government

Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today announced that from Term 1 2026 the new school lunch programme will deliver affordable, nutritious lunches, on time to contributing primary schools every day. 

“As schools open in 2026, the programme will deliver nutritious meals to around 242,000 students, every school day,” Mr Seymour says.

“From term 1 2026 all contributing primary schools (years 0 – 6) will transition to the same cost-efficient model as other schools in the programme. This two-stage approach was agreed to by Cabinet in 2024.

“Suppliers were invited to apply for the Healthy School Lunches Request for Proposals in July. Today we have announced, ten suppliers (listed at the end of this release) were contracted to deliver lunches to 188 contributing primary schools.” 

Suppliers are contracted to deliver school lunches which cater to standard special diet lunches. They will use sustainable packaging and user-friendly ordering systems. Suppliers will distribute meals to their schools and manage surplus meals and waste.

“The regional approach was found to best meet the needs of contributing primary schools in New Zealand. For example, many small primary schools serve remote communities. Having multiple suppliers means the programme can deliver to these schools, while saving the taxpayer an expected $145 million in 2026,” Mr Seymour says. 

“The ten suppliers have been part of the programme for several years. They bring the experience, systems, and track records to deliver nutritious lunches that students enjoy every school day.

“For example, when floods close the roads Café Mahia still finds a way to deliver lunches to two isolated schools in Wairoa. They have the know how to deal will the unique asks of the region.  

“The weighted average meal cost across all suppliers is $3.46, which is based on the per meal cost of suppliers between $3 and $5 per lunch. Suppliers require different price points based on the unique parameters of their region as well as remote location and size of the schools included. 

“No increase to funding is required for this, it is funded by efficiencies made in the wider programme through more flexible ordering. This Government gave schools the ability to order to demand, so if parents can provide their children with lunch the school doesn’t need to order a taxpayer-funded one.

“Under the Labour-led government, lunches cost up to $8.68 per student. Through innovation and embracing commercial expertise, we’re delivering a better programme, saving taxpayers approximately $145 million per annum compared to how Labour funded it.

“Since the beginning of Term 1 2025, the Programme has delivered over 30 million nutritious meals, to 242,000 students, in over 1,000 schools. 

“The government is also providing food for up to 10,000 two-to-five-year-olds attending low-equity, community-based early learning services. This is funded by   savings found in the lunch programme. 

“Some suppliers in the existing programme will be affected, and I appreciate this will be tough. However, the emphasis of the programme is to ensure students get healthy meals at an affordable cost to the taxpayer.”

The new suppliers for contributing primary schools are listed below. More information on individual suppliers is available in the attached information sheet.

• Appresso Pro Foods         
• Montana Group      
• Ka Pai Kai    
• KDJ Catering
• Cafe Mahia  
• Star Fresh    
• University of Canterbury Student Association (UCSA)          
• Knuckles (The Food Company)   
• The Y Gisborne
• Pita Pit and Subway

Source: NZ Department of Conservation

Date:  07 November 2025

Windfall clearance and track repair work is well underway on the Milford Track following the recent storm but the avalanche hazard is still too high to safely allow work at some bridge sites.

DOC Operations Director Southern South Island Aaron Fleming says until the avalanche risk has substantially decreased, the bridges can’t be reinstalled. 

“We have rangers from outside the region on the ground helping with the recovery.

“Safety is always our number one priority and right now the risk is too high. Staff are seeing daily avalanches in the upper Clinton, with heavy snow loads beginning to melt. As well as a risk to people, it wouldn’t make sense to install a bridge directly in the path of a predictable avalanche.”

Staff are still working towards a November 19 reopening for the Milford Track however will be in direct contact with booked hikers if further delays are expected. 

The alpine sections of the Kepler and Routeburn tracks remain closed until snow and avalanche conditions improve. The DOC website continues to be updated regularly as new information comes to light, and DOC will continue to notify people booked of any delays or closures, says Aaron.

“Anyone heading backcountry into alpine areas should be aware of the heightened avalanche risk following the late spring snowfall. It’s not just Great Walks impacted.

“It’s not the start of the summer hiking season we’d hoped for, but we are working hard to get things up and running for people to get back out naturing as soon as possible and we’d like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding.”

Contact

Source: New Zealand Police

Please attribute to Inspector Danny Kirk, Area Commander for Tairawhiti:

Exceptional work by Police staff has led to two Mongrel Mob members being charged after an incident in Wairoa yesterday afternoon.

Around midday, two Detectives were conducting enquiries at an address on Black Street which was subject to arson attack last week. While on the street, they were alerted to a vehicle of interest.

That same vehicle, then cut in front of a separate patrol unit who was in the area and then failed to stop for Police when signalled to do so.

Police followed the vehicle and saw it pull into an address on Jellicoe Street and all occupants of the vehicle fled on foot.

Police found a loaded rifle near the car and as such cordons were put in place. Our Gisborne Armed Offenders Squad, police dog unit and other officers quickly attended and four men were located and arrested.

All men were patched members or prospects of the Mongrel Mob.

A 24-year-old man has now been charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and failing to stop for Police.

A 19-year-old man has been charged with unlawful possession of a firearm.

Both are due in Gisborne District Court today.

Police are now awaiting forensic testing and further charges are likely.

ENDS

Issued by the Police Media Centre.

Source: New Zealand Police

Emergency services are in attendance at a crash on the Harbour Bridge this morning.

Police were called to the single vehicle crash at about 11.17am.

Northbound lanes two and three have been closed while crews respond.

One person has sustained minor injuries.

Motorists are being advised to expect delays.

ENDS.

Holly McKay/NZ Police

Source: New Zealand Government

Patients across Taranaki now have access to world-class cancer care closer to home with the official opening of the Taranaki Cancer Centre, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.

“This centre marks a major milestone for patients and families across Taranaki,” Mr Brown says. 

“It delivers modern, patient-focused cancer care in a purpose-built facility designed to meet the region’s needs, now and into the future.”

At the heart of the new centre is Taranaki’s first Linear Accelerator (LINAC), enabling local delivery of radiation therapy for the first time. This cutting-edge technology precisely targets cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue, improving both treatment outcomes and patient comfort. 

“Each year, around 300 Taranaki patients require radiation therapy. Until now, many had to travel to Palmerston North for multiple appointments, adding stress and disruption to already challenging circumstances.

“With this new facility, up to 80 percent of radiation treatments can now be delivered locally, with only one planning visit required outside the region.” 

The centre also increases access to chemotherapy, now available five days a week instead of four. This improvement will enhance access to cancer medications and streamline treatment schedules for patients.

The $56.1 million facility also includes:

• 10 chemotherapy chairs (up from eight)
• Eight outpatient family rooms with video-conferencing
• Two isolation rooms
• Dedicated family spaces to support patients and family throughout their care journey

The Taranaki Cancer Centre is in addition to the wider $462.6 million redevelopment of Taranaki Base Hospital, which is modernising and expanding healthcare infrastructure across the region. The new East Wing building is nearing completion, offering increased capacity and state-of-the-art facilities for both patients and clinicians. 

“We are focused on building a modern, resilient, and future-ready health system for New Zealanders.

“This new cancer centre will reduce long journeys for treatment, give patients more time with their loved ones, and support better health outcomes, while providing clinicians with the modern facilities and technology needed to deliver world-class care – right here in Taranaki.”

Source: New Zealand Police

A rider who fled from Police and recklessly rode through reserves and walkways in South Auckland has come unstuck.

At about 9.15pm, Police observed a motorbike travelling along Great South Road, Takanini with a lapsed licence dating back to 2019.

Counties Manukau South Area Prevention Manager, Inspector Matt Hoyes, says officers attempted to stop the motorbike to enquire into the registration.

“The rider has failed to stop and instead performed a U-turn on Manuroa Road and fled.

“The Police Eagle helicopter has quickly gained observations of the motorbike as it drove dangerously across South Auckland for nearly two hours.”

Inspector Hoyes says the rider drove through a number of reserves and walkways before getting stuck in wet grass in Sharland Park.

“He has then attempted to flee on foot before eventually giving up and being taken into custody.

“Other road users and members of the public should not expect to have their safety put at risk as it was last night.

“This is a good example of great Police work from staff across Tāmaki Makaurau who brought this incident to a safe conclusion and held this person to account for their reckless actions.”

A 41-year-old man, who also had two warrants to arrest, will appear in Manukau District Court today charged with dangerous driving and failing to stop as well as a number of other charges.

ENDS.

Holly McKay/NZ Police

Source: New Zealand Government

Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey is pleased to celebrate Gumboot Friday today, a fantastic initiative helping thousands of young people access free mental health support faster.

“In July I announced that in the first twelve months of Government funding, Gumboot Friday delivered more than 30,000 free counselling sessions, supporting over 10,000 young New Zealanders who might not otherwise had timely access to support,” Mr Doocey says.

“I’m pleased to update that since then, Gumboot Friday has delivered over 10,700 free counselling sessions and supported a further 4,350 young people.

“This means that since Government funding began, over 40,700 sessions have been delivered, supporting more than 14,350 young New Zealanders.

“In July, I also announced that more than 700 qualified counsellors were registered on the Gumboot Friday platform, an increase of 175. They’ve since scaled up even further, with another 80 counsellors joining, bringing the total to 810.

“This gives young people more choice in who they see and ensures that when someone reaches out, they’re seen when and where they need it.

“This is exactly why Gumboot Friday received Government funding, they’ve shown their capability to keep scaling up nationwide so even more young people can get the support they need.

“There aren’t many organisations that can move our young people off waitlists and into counselling often within just a few days.

“Mental health concerns are one of the biggest issues facing young New Zealanders today. I want to thank the team at I Am Hope, who work tirelessly to give our young people the support they need.

“This powerful partnership between Government and a grassroots organisation is making a real difference, supporting the Government’s mental health plan for faster access to support, more frontline workers, and a better crisis response.”

Last year, the Government committed $24 million over four years to Gumboot Friday under the National–New Zealand First coalition agreement to scale up support for young people across the country.