NZ Engine

Source: New Zealand Police

A serious incident in Tauranga this morning involving an armed, fleeing driver has ended with the arrest of a 36-year-old man.

Nobody was seriously hurt, but the incident was highly visible as Police tracked a suspect from Bethlehem to central Tauranga, about 15km away.

Police were first called to a Sabana Place address about 8.10am, after a person reported a relative being shot at by an individual, said Bay of Plenty District Commander Superintendent Tim Anderson.

“While officers were responding, the suspect left the scene in a white ute and began driving towards Cameron Road, where officers spotted the vehicle and kept watch while plans were put in place to safely stop it.”

Superintendent Anderson says the vehicle fled when Police signalled for it to stop but a short pursuit was abandoned when the driving behaviour deteriorated.

“CCTV cameras were used to track the car and get units in place to spike it without increasing the risk to the public or Police. An officer was able to spike the tyres on The Strand, and the rubber finally gave way while the vehicle was being driven erratically near Tauranga Police Station.”

The driver exited the vehicle holding a firearm, and Police immediately challenged him and unsuccessfully appealed for him to put the weapon down. Officers used non-lethal sponge rounds and a Taser to end the incident.

The man was taken into custody at about 8.40am and received medical attention for minor injuries. Cordons were briefly in place at Monmouth Street and Sabana Place but both roads have now been reopened. Scene examinations are ongoing at Sabana Place, where there will be an increased Police presence.

“I’m proud of the efforts of the officers involved. They were faced with an unpredictable and dangerous situation and resolved it quickly, without anyone being seriously injured,” Superintendent Anderson said. “Given the nature of what occurred, we are offering support to the victims and staff involved.

“We want to assure the community there is no ongoing threat, and we are not looking for anyone else in relation to the incident.”

A 36-year-old Tauranga man has been charged with firearms and driving offences.  He is due to appear in the Tauranga District Court on Tuesday.

Police would like to hear from anyone who witnessed the events, or who has dashcam of the incident. Please contact Police online at 105.police.govt.nz, clicking “update report”, or by calling 105. Please reference the number P064138790.

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

ENDS

Issued by the Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government is investing close to $97 million into 32 flood resilience projects across New Zealand, helping to protect more than 30,000 homes and around 350,000 hectares of land, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones announced today.

“Flooding doesn’t just damage roads, pipes and power poles – it disrupts communities, livelihoods and local economies. This second tranche of flood resilience funding from the Regional Infrastructure Fund is the Government’s commitment to equipping our regions with the protections needed to weather storms and bounce back quicker,” Mr Jones says.

Of the 32 new projects, 22 are based in the South Island, reflecting the critical need for infrastructure that can withstand increasingly severe and frequent weather events.

“We’ve recognised the urgency of these investments, which is why we’ve doubled down on regions like Tasman, where recent flooding has demonstrated both our vulnerability and the extensive cost of recovery,” Mr Jones says.

The projects announced today will help protect around 100,000 New Zealanders who live in these areas and brings the total number of flood resilience projects supported by the Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF) to 74, with nearly $200m committed since August 2024 to protecting regional communities from the impacts of flooding.

“The value of these investments is clear. During the recent South Island floods, early works at Spring Creek funded through the first tranche of flood resilience RIF funding prevented what could have been significant damage to properties and infrastructure. 

“In Motueka, local authorities indicated that without its government-funded flood resilience infrastructure, the township would’ve been inundated. And let’s not forget Taradale where a $4m investment in flood protection saved over $7 billion in damages during Cyclone Gabrielle. That’s not just smart economics, it’s common sense,” Mr Jones says. 

Sixty per cent of the cost of the 32 projects will be funded by government, with the relevant local authority co-funding the balance. Also included in the tranche two flood resilience projects is $7.46m in RIF funding to support the installation of early warning flood systems across ten councils nationwide

“These are pragmatic and high-impact investments that will make a real difference in these communities. I look forward to seeing progress as work gets underway in the months ahead, and communities start to see the benefits of this investment in their future,” Mr Jones says. 

Further information about the second tranche of flood resilience RIF projects can be found at www.growregions.govt.nz.    

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government is cracking down on the delays and cost blowouts caused by pipes and cables buried under our roads

“Infrastructure projects up and down the country are slowed down because often no one knows exactly where underground pipes and cables are, or what condition they’re in,” Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop says.

“Too often the same road gets dug up twice in a matter of months, or a project is delayed for months on end because the utilities weren’t where the plans said they were. That’s a waste of time and money, and it causes huge disruption to businesses and the public.

“The Stage 1 Cameron Road redevelopment in Tauranga is a classic example, where inaccurate utility records caused months of delay and millions of dollars in extra cost.

“Earlier this year, Cabinet signed off a programme to improve New Zealand’s asset management systems. As part of this work, I have asked the New Zealand Utilities Advisory Group to look at options for strengthening underground utility records, including the potential to expand Wellington City Council’s successful pilot of an underground asset register.

“The idea is simple: every time the road corridor is opened – whether to fix a water leak, install a bus lane, or move electricity cables – the register is updated. It builds a library of underground asset information that keeps everyone on the same page.

“The current National Code of Practice requires utility operators to keep accurate records, but compliance is inconsistent, and many older assets were installed with poor or no records at all.

“The Code was meant to be self-regulating, but it’s clearly not working as intended. We need a system that actually saves time, cuts costs, and keeps projects moving.”

The review will be completed early next year.

Note to editor:

The Terms of Reference are attached. 

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government is cutting red tape for home-based cake makers as part of a wider work programme to make it easier to operate and innovate in the food sector, Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard and Regulation Minister David Seymour announced today.

“By November this year we will be reducing costs for home based cake makers by removing ongoing verification and revising registration requirements under the Food Act,” says Mr Hoggard

“There is no reason low-risk cake makers should have to navigate the same level of red tape and compliance costs as a large commercial bakery, but currently they do.

“These changes fix what matters for bakers. They will find it easier and cheaper to operate, opening the door for more people to turn their hobby into a business or an extra income stream. For consumers, it means more choice and competition – especially in smaller towns where options can be limited.

“Businesses take food safety seriously because they want their customers to come back, and to spread the word. Where we have rules, they should be proportionate to the actual risk.”

Minister for Regulation David Seymour says this is another example of the Red Tape Tipline helping Kiwis frustrated with frustrated with disproportionate regulation.

“People shouldn’t be bogged down in compliance for the sake of it. The Red Tape Tipline is giving Kiwis a voice, and it’s working,” says Mr Seymour.

“Dozens of cake makers got in touch to say the current requirements didn’t make sense. The Ministry investigated, agreed, and now we’re fixing it. That’s how regulation should work, responsive to those who are affected and focussed on what really matters.

“We’re acting on the tips we get through the red tape tipline by removing regulation and making it easier for Kiwis to get things done. We want to hear about red tape like this that’s getting in the way – I encourage anyone with a red tape issue to report it on the Ministry for Regulation website.”

“Today’s changes are just the first step and work is underway on further red tape cuts for the food sector,” says Mr Hoggard

“In recent months I’ve met with nearly 20 food businesses across the country, and attended roundtables with members of Hospitality New Zealand, the Restaurant Association and the New Zealand Food and Grocery Council.

“The issues raised at those meetings, along with feedback on the Red Tape Tipline, are informing this work programme. But if you’re a business I haven’t heard from, get in touch.”

Additional changes MPI officials are working on include:

•    Reducing regulatory costs for more low-risk businesses 
•    Assistance for businesses to innovate and test new products
•    Providing more flexibility for testing, without compromising safety
•    Simplifying record keeping requirements
•    Making it easier to export food products
•    Applying consistent rules and verification across the country
•    Providing free food safety training
•    Establish a strengthened level playing field by managing more unregistered businesses

“Whether you operate a food truck, export to the world, or anything in between, I want to make your life easier.”

“Less time on paperwork means more time creating jobs, innovating, and serving Kiwis,” says Mr Hoggard.
 

Source: Maritime Union of New Zealand

The Maritime Union has today called for the Government to reject an application by Swiss-based shipping company Nova to be exempted from the legal requirement for New Zealand coastal vessels to be New Zealand flagged.

The call comes as Nova’s fellow Swiss multinational company, Holcim, moves to scrap its New Zealand flagged vessel MV Buffalo and sack its New Zealand based crew in favour of using Nova’s “flag of convenience” Panamanian flagged service to transport its cement domestically.

This would bypass New Zealand legal protections for crew including those provided by employment and environmental law.

MUNZ National Secretary Carl Findlay says the application to be exempted is a test of the government’s loyalties.

“This Government needs to ask itself – does it back the 32 Kiwi seafarers on the Buffalo and New Zealand’s vital shipping industry, or does it give a free pass to two Swiss multinational companies looking to make a few more dollars at the expense of its crew’s safety and security, and yet another hit on New Zealand’s supply chain security and economic sovereignty?”

Mr Findlay says the Minister of Transport James Meager is refusing to meet with the seafarers and their representatives until after the “application process has concluded”.

“He seems to want to wait until New Zealand seafarers are sacked to get involved, rather than stepping up.”

Mr Findlay says New Zealand is an island nation facing significant risk to the maritime supply chains we rely on to transport 99% of our physical exports to market.

He says any further reduction of our skills and capacity in this sector increases that risk.

“Granting this exemption would be an act of economic sabotage.”

“This isn’t a complicated situation. It’s a simple choice. The Government can grant this exemption from New Zealand law and harm these workers and our maritime industry, or they can do the right thing and make sure that this work is done on a New Zealand flagged ship with a workforce protected by New Zealand law.”

Source: PHARMAC

Pharmac is removing unnecessary renewal requirements for selected Special Authority medicines and products, making it easier for people with long-term conditions to access the treatments they need.

A Special Authority is a type of funding restriction used by Pharmac to ensure that certain medicines are targeted to people who would benefit most from them. It sets out specific clinical criteria that must be met before a medicine can be funded.

From 1 December 2025, patients will no longer need to renew Special Authority approvals for:

• Insulin pump consumables and continuous glucose monitors for type 1 diabetes
• LAMA/LABA inhalers for respiratory conditions
• Epoetin alfa for chronic renal failure
• Budesonide capsules for Crohn’s disease and microscopic colitis
• Febuxostat for gout

These changes follow consultation on changes to support 12-month prescriptions. Feedback from health professionals and stakeholders highlighted that many renewal requirements were administrative only and created unnecessary barriers for people.

“These changes will remove around 32,000 renewal applications annually, or about 20% of all Special Authority renewals,” says Pharmac’s Director Strategy, Policy and Performance Michael Johnson. “It will save prescribers and pharmacists hours of administration each week, which frees them up to spend more time with patients.”

“This is about putting people first. Fewer repeat appointments and simpler access to medicines means better continuity of care and less stress for people managing long-term conditions.”

Pharmac will work with Health New Zealand to extend expiry dates for people with existing approvals, ensuring a smooth transition.

Source: New Zealand Police

To be attributed to Detective Senior Sergeant David Thompson, Area Investigations Manager:

A homicide inquiry has commenced following the death of a woman in Pahiatua yesterday.

Police were called to a residential address on Arthur Street in Pahiatua at around 4.40pm, where they located the woman deceased.

A scene guard is in place at the property and nearby residents can expect to see an ongoing police presence in the coming days as we conduct a scene examination and make enquiries in the area. 

Local police have also been working with the school near the property to provide reassurance and an alternative route for students to enter and exit the school.

We know the police presence will be unsettling but we can confirm there is no threat to the wider community.

A car belonging to the woman is missing from the address and Police are appealing for any sightings of it since yesterday afternoon.  It is possible the car may no longer be in the Pahiatua area, so we are appealing for sightings across the central North Island region.

The car is a red, late-model Mitsubishi ASX VRX station wagon, registration QGU91.

Police would also like to hear from anyone else who has information which they think may assist our enquiries.

If you can help, please contact Police via 105 and quote file number 251015/6286.

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

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre. 

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government has released New Zealand’s first National Adaptation Framework to ensure people know what risks they face and what the plan is to address them, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says.

“New Zealand faces growing risks from floods, storms and other natural hazards. We need our country and economy to be resilient and well-prepared,” Mr Watts says.

“That’s why the Government is introducing the National Adaptation Framework to give us an enduring system that prepares New Zealand for the impacts of climate change, supports economic growth and keeps the overall costs to our society as low as possible.”

The Framework includes four pillars with 16 actions all designed to ensure New Zealand is prepared for the effects of climate change. These pillars include:

1. Risks and response information sharing
2. Roles and responsibilities
3. Investment in risk reduction
4. Cost-sharing pre-and post-event

“One of the more significant pillars is ensuring New Zealanders have access to better information about the risks they face, especially from flooding,” Mr Watts says.

“New Zealand’s first-ever National Flood Map will show where flooding is likely to happen, both now and in the future as a result of climate change. We’ll make the map readily available, to make it easy for anyone to look up and understand their risks.”

Work is underway, with the first iteration of the map expected to be available before the end of next year.

“We want the best minds in modelling and technology, nationally and internationally, to help us tackle this. The Ministry for the Environment will today release a Request for Information inviting input from external organisations to support the development of the map,” Mr Watts says,

“We are also introducing legislation to clarify the responsibility of local government by requiring adaptation plans in the highest priority areas. We have seen in recent years just how devastating floods can be, and we need to make sure our need to make sure our highest risks are being addressed.

“The new adaptation plans will help people understand what the risks are, how this will be managed, and what investment will happen in their area, so people know what to expect.”

Alongside the map and legislation, the Framework brings together new and existing actions across New Zealand’s economy.

“Adaptation can’t happen in a silo. We’re taking action across the whole system, to sharpen our focus and make sure we are building in resilience as part of strengthening and growing our economy,” Mr Watts says.

“We will keep building on these foundations over time, including taking further decisions on issues such as cost-sharing. It is important we take time to work through all these issues to ensure this framework can endure.”

Source: New Zealand Police

Taupō Police are seeking information follow a fatal crash on State Highway 1, Pairere yesterday evening.

Police and other emergency services responded to the crash near the intersection of State Highway 1 and Horahora Road at around 7:50pm Wednesday 15 October.

Police are asking for anyone who witnessed or has dashcam footage of the crash to please contact Police immediately.

We are also asking for anyone that may have witnessed unusual or poor driving behaviour that involved a grey SUV or small silver hatchback, in and around the Pairere area on Wednesday 15 October, to please come forward.

Information can be provided by calling 105 and quoting file number 251016/7055.

Police can confirm that the Serious Crash Unit have completed a scene examination, and the road reopened in the early hours of this morning.

We thank motorists for their patience and cooperation during this time.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Government

My thoughts and condolences are with Jim Bolger’s wife Joan, his children and grandchildren, and the rest of his extended family.

Mr Bolger was a proud New Zealander who served his country as Prime Minister during a difficult period of serious transition in our politics. 

Everyone with a knowledge of New Zealand political history from the late 1980s and early 1990s will know that the two of us sometimes had our policy differences! 

But from 1996 onwards, Mr Bolger and I led New Zealand’s first MMP Government – which was a coalition between NZ First and National. 

As the leader of Mr Bolger’s coalition partner, I can attest he was a man of his word. He did what he said he would do – and we ran our Coalition Government with integrity, focus and a fidelity to New Zealanders who had delivered a majority to our two political parties. 

After leaving politics, Mr Bolger continued to play a role in advancing New Zealand’s interests on the international stage – including as New Zealand Ambassador to the United States at a time when we were seeking to bring our two countries closer together.

Mr Bolger should be remembered warmly as a New Zealander who devoted his life to our great country.