NZ Engine

Source: NZ Department of Conservation

Date:  25 September 2025

Marine ranger Don Neale has been running surveys at West Coast marine reserves since 2022, to measure the impact rubbish is having in our marine environment over time.

Don says there is more rubbish in the sites he monitors which are closer to townships and settlements, but overall, the rates of rubbish are pretty low compared to other parts of the country.

“In a 20 m by 100 m plot we typically find less than 50 bits of rubbish. That’s still quite a lot for a remote bit of coast, but in some other parts of the country they are finding hundreds of rubbish items.

“This monitoring is in conjunction with Sustainable Coastlines, an organisation supporting citizen science efforts to understand the impact of rubbish around Aotearoa. Anyone can get involved – some West Coast schools are also taking part by monitoring rubbish on their nearby beaches.”

Insights from Sustainable Coastlines’ ‘Litter Intelligence’ monitoring is sparking real change. Don says a manufacturer in the North Island started using cork spacers instead of plastic after waste specific to their manufacturing plant became a common fixture in the rubbish found. Sustainable Coastlines uses the survey data to advocate for clean coasts.

Helen Adams-Blackburn, Sustainable Coastlines Communications manager, says while the West Coast sees the lowest regional litter density, there’s still an issue to tackle.

“Obviously population has a big impact on how much litter we see, as do currents and the geography of the coastline. Regardless of what makes its way to the beach, everyone can still protect our ocean and wider environment by finding alternatives to plastics in their daily lives and reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill.”

Don says at West Coast sites quite a bit of bale wrap is found, amongst other plastic rubbish. “This tells us these materials aren’t making it into the recycling or suitable places for waste disposal. It’s a reminder people need to take steps to reduce the rubbish they create and dispose of it thoughtfully.

“Plastic rubbish is a particular problem because it doesn’t break down in the environment. Wildlife might eat it or become entangled in it; it contaminates food and water and enters the food chain. People can always be naturing by limiting the amount of plastic waste they create and making sure it finds the recycling or waste bin. Everybody has a part to play.”

Background information

Learn more about the work of Litter Intelligence.

Litter density (items per 1,000 m 2) by region. All time–31 March 2025.

Wellington: 558
Auckland: 416
Hawke’s Bay: 317
Canterbury: 275
Marlborough: 242
Tasman–Nelson: 248
Northland: 222
Otago: 208
Waikato: 163
Southland: 123
Taranaki: 113
Bay of Plenty: 107
Manawatu–Wanganui: 82
Gisborne: 74
West Coast: 27

Contact

Source: New Zealand Police

Please attribute to Inspector Grant Tetzlaff, Acting Auckland City District Commander:

At 5.40am Emergency services attended a two-vehicle crash on Victoria Street, Auckland Central.

At this point in our enquiries, we have established a vehicle has been traveling at high speed on Victoria Street West. It has continued down the hill where it has lost control, colliding with a Police car which was stationary at a red light.

The crash has caused extensive damage to both vehicles.

Police want to make it clear the vehicle was not being pursued, we are releasing some additional footage in the lead up to the crash.

The Police officer driving has received minor injuries, with the officer who was a passenger uninjured.

Our staff were heading back towards base to finish off their shift when the incident occurred. Police have put support in place for our staff, making sure welfare is available to them should they need it.

The driver of the other vehicle is in a serious condition in hospital.

Enquires into the cause of the crash are ongoing.

Note for Media: footage can be viewed on the Auckland City Police Facebook page.

ENDS.

Amanda Wieneke/NZ Police

Source: New Zealand Government

Horticulture and job opportunities in Northland will get a major boost with the completion of Te Waihekeora Reservoir, a large water storage project south of Dargaville.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Regional Development Minister Shane Jones officially opened the 3.3 million cubic metre reservoir’s opening at Te Kōpuru today.

“Northland is often at the mercy of drought but also flooding. It also has tremendous economic possibilities through its fertile soil but without the means to store the generous rainfall these possibilities are limited,” Mr Jones says. 

The water infrastructure will unlock more than 1000ha of land for horticulture. This could be quadrupled with the recently announced 22km Kaipara pipeline which will eventually connect the reservoir to Dargaville.

“Better water infrastructure enables higher-value land use, year-round productivity, and will give growers and farmers the certainty to invest, expand and innovate. Local growers and farmers, many of whom are iwi, can be optimistic about increased yields, in turn creating more jobs, boosting the local economy and reaching more markets.” Mr Jones says.

“Projects like this, which was funded by the former Provincial Growth Fund, help realise the full potential of our land, industries and people. It also achieves one of the Coalition Government’s key goals – doubling the value of New Zealand’s exports through smarter, more sustainable growth in food and fibre.

The completion of Te Waihekeora Reservoir, managed by Te Tai Tokerau Water Trust, marks a key milestone in the region’s economic journey. Together with the Kaipara pipeline, the project will deliver multiple benefits, including: 

·            Strengthening water security across Northland.

·            Supporting horticultural development, particularly for Māori-owned enterprises such as Te Uri o Hau Avocado Orchard Development, which is already drawing water from the reservoir and initial pipeline to grow crops.

·            Stimulating economic growth through increased investment and activity in the region.

·            Supplying water to key local users including Silver Fern Farms, the area’s largest employer, as well as surrounding farms and industrial operations.

Since 2018, government funding of almost $126 million has been announced for water storage infrastructure in Northland. This includes the $35m from the PGF for Te Waihekeora Reservoir, and a loan of up to $17.5m from the Regional Infrastructure Fund to support the Kaipara pipeline.

Source: NZ Ministry for Primary Industries

Source: New Zealand Government

The New Zealand Army is set to receive a suite of hi-tech digital communications devices and systems to help it protect our country and our people, Defence Minister Judith Collins announced today.

“In a volatile global environment with rapid technological change, it is imperative our soldiers are combat capable, lethal, deployable and interoperable with international partners,” Ms Collins says.

The $104 million investment covers military grade radio systems for Army personnel, along with deployable network infrastructure such as ground-based satellite technologies and servers.

“This war-fighting equipment will be modern, fit-for-purpose, secure and resilient, and ready to roll-out from 2027. The project is a significant milestone in the multi-phased Network Enabled Army programme, which is focused on enhancing the combat capability of our soldiers, making them safer.

“Specialised communications devices will help personnel make faster, more accurate decisions through the use of real-time information and secure voice and data communications.

“Some of the communications equipment currently used by our soldiers is more than 20 years old. “Upgraded radio systems and improved network capabilities will support communications and information sharing between deployed units, coalition partners, government agencies and NZDF commanders, whether they be overseas on military operations or at Defence Headquarters in New Zealand.

“This investment was included in the 2025 Defence Capability Plan, which outlined planned commitments worth $12 billion over the next four years and doubles our defence spending by 2032/33, as we pull our weight in a rapidly changing world.”

Source: New Zealand Police

Three people have been taken into custody following a series of search warrants targeting traffic offending and anti-social trail bike use.

Early this morning, Police executed four search warrants at properties in the Opotiki area.

One trail bike was located and impounded, and two young people were arrested at the scene.

Following the search warrants, another property of interest was searched under warrantless power locating and seizing cannabis, cash, and one trail bike.

A 25-year-old man was taken into custody in relation to these located items.

The man is due to appear in Court at a later date charged with traffic offending and drug related charges.

The two youth will be referred to Youth Court.

Opotiki Police remain committed to holding those to account for this unlawful activity, and urge the community to come forward with any information around unlawful dirt bike use.

Information like this helps us identify and locate alleged offenders and seize bikes for the safety of everyone on the roads or out and about.

Opotiki police would like to thank those members of the public who have come forward with information to help keep our community safe.

If you witness any anti-social dirt bike use, we urge you to contact us on 111 immediately.

Information can also be reported through 105 online or by call in non-emergencies or after the fact.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: NZ Ministry for Primary Industries

Source: New Zealand Police

Police welcome the findings of the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) that a police officer’s actions during an incident in Motueka in March 2024 were justified. 

Officers were responding to several 111 calls regarding a man presenting a firearm at members of the public. 

Tasman District Commander, Superintendent Tracey Thompson, says the officer involved assessed the situation and responded accordingly, to ensure the safety of all who were present.

“The officer involved used his car to mitigate the risk he believed the man presented to his fellow officers and members of the public,” says Superintendent Thompson.

“The information available to the officer from the 111 calls suggested the man was armed with a pistol.”

“The officer therefore believed there was an imminent risk that he, his fellow officers, or members of the public could be shot.”

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre. 

Source: New Zealand Police

Police are appealing to the public for information on the whereabouts of David Heketoa, who has a warrant to arrest.

Heketoa, 56, is wanted to arrest for breaching electronically monitored bail.

Police have been making extensive enquires to locate Heketoa, but he is actively evading Police.

We believe he is transient and may be moving between addresses in an attempt to avoid apprehension.

If you see Heketoa please call 111 immediately.

Anyone with general information that can assist our enquiries call 105 and quote file number 230418/8075.

Alternatively, information can be provided anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

ENDS.

Amanda Wieneke/NZ Police

Source: New Zealand Government

Petroleum operators can once again apply for new prospecting and exploration permits beyond onshore Taranaki, enabling the work needed to grow New Zealand’s dwindling gas reserves, says Resources Minister Shane Jones. 

In addition to the Block Offer competitive tender process, a new open market application pathway has been introduced to allocate new permits—providing a more responsive mechanism to align with investor interest and incentivise bold exploration plans.

“Confidence in the gas sector took a significant hit when the exploration ban was introduced in 2018, impacting investment in our producing fields and preventing the vital new exploration needed to meet demand in the years to come,” Mr Jones says. 

“This has left a gaping hole in New Zealand’s medium-term energy security, and while we continue to progress options to provide interim relief, we need to get the sector back to work to play catch-up.

“The open market application process better balances this urgency with robust competition by allowing an operator to apply for prospecting and exploration acreage as soon as they are ready. Regulator New Zealand Petroleum and Minerals will then call for competing applications over the same acreage for a period of three months, ensuring permits are granted based on the best proposed work programmes and outcomes.

“Block Offer tenders are a great promotional tool that can still be utilised in the future, but right now my focus is on reviving exploration activity in new prospects and existing gas-producing reserves as soon as possible.”

To support this, Mr Jones says he will have further detail to share shortly on the Coalition Government’s tagged contingency of $200 million through Budget 2025 for co-investment in new gas fields. 

Hobby miners can also apply for permits under a new Tier 3 category from today, making it easier for people to undertake small-scale gold mining activity across the country. The streamlined process better balances the levels of regulatory scrutiny with the types of activities used in hobby mining.

“This new permit category is great news for the 200 hobby miners predominantly operating on the West Coast and in Otago – and many more who have been put off seeking approval due to stringent regulatory requirements and compliance costs designed for larger operations,” Mr Jones says. 

“The streamlined application tests and reduced annual reporting requirements cut regulatory burden and frees up New Zealand Petroleum and Minerals to focus on higher-value, more complex applications.”

Read more at Crown Minerals Act law changes – New Zealand Petroleum and Minerals