Source: New Zealand Police
Emergency services are responding to a serious crash on the St Lukes Road overbridge in Auckland.
The crash, involving two cars, was reported to Police at 6.30pm.
One person is reported to be in a critical condition.
The northwestern St Lukes off-ramp has been closed and other traffic management may be put in place.
Motorists are asked to avoid the area and take alternate routes where possible.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre.
Source: New Zealand Police
Emergency services are responding to a serious crash in Ōtara, South Auckland.
Police were notified at 3.20pm that a motorcyclist had crashed at the intersection of Preston Road and Geraldine Road.
The motorcyclist is reported to have critical injuries.
The Serious Crash Unit has been notified and traffic management is being put in place.
Motorists are asked to follow the directions of emergency services staff.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre.
Source: New Zealand Police
Emergency services are at the scene of a serious two-vehicle crash near the intersection of Mill and Richmond Roads, Clive.
Police were called shortly before 9.30am.
Initial indications suggest there have been serious injuries.
Both roads have closures, with diversions in place.
Motorists should avoid the area if possible.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: New Zealand Police
Emergency services are at the scene of a serious single-vehicle crash on SH1 near Redwood Pass, Marlborough.
Police were called about 12.15am.
One person reportedly sustained critical injuries.
The road remains closed while the Serious Crash Unit examines the scene.
Motorists should avoid the area if possible.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: New Zealand Police
Emergency services are responding to a crash on Ladys Mile in Foxton.
A car has collided with a power pole, bringing power lines down across the car and the road.
The crash, near the intersection with Herrington Street, was reported to Police at 5.15pm.
Until the power lines are made safe, we are asking people to avoid the area.
At this stage there is no information available regarding any injuries to the car’s occupants.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre.
Source: New Zealand Police
Motorists travelling on State Highway 2 near the Waikato Expressway in Pōkeno are advised to expect delays, as emergency services respond to a fire in the nearby area.
The fire was reported to Police just after 10:30am.
We ask motorists to take extra caution while on State Highway 2 between the Expressway and Avon Road.
We thank motorists for their patience.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: New Zealand Police
The sequel to buses and trains wrapped in Police livery rolled out in Wellington today, driven by passion and fuelled by hope – it’s a patrol car with a face-lift, upcycled as a mini cinema for watching the latest Police YouTube vlog ‘Ride Along’ and other recruitment reels.
Earlier today in Wellywood – aka the Wellington suburb of Miramar – Police Commissioner Richard Chambers and the cast members of Ride Along walked the red carpet at Roxy Cinema for the unveiling of the decommissioned patrol car.
The former frontline car has been given a make-over and includes a wide screen, two large newly upholstered comfortable theatre-style seats, and a handy place for resting popcorn.
Commissioner Chambers hosted the event alongside Constables Jake, Sophia, Steven, and Jess – the four officers who feature in Ride Along.
“This is more than just a car, it’s a recruitment experience,” says Commissioner Chambers.
“It can be turned back into a working car after this campaign, however at the moment it’s a stationary movie theatre for recruitment purposes.”
NZ Police relaunched the popular vlog series Ride Along as part of our latest recruitment campaign in March 2025. The series is an entertaining but real insight into policing and follows four constables and their day-to-day lives on the job.
“Many officers tell me they were inspired to apply to join NZ Police because of the original series of Ride Along,” says Commissioner Chambers.
“Since its re-launch, over 1.5 million people have viewed Ride Along and our NZ Police YouTube followers have increased by more than 5,000.”
Constable Steven, Ride Along cast member and frontline officer from Whanganui, says he loved helping with today’s launch and met some great people.
“Ride Along helps to showcase what we do as police officers, and hopefully it will also inspire the next generation to join police one day.”
Constable Jess, another Ride Along cast member and a road policing officer from Wellington, says it’s been really good filming the vlog series.
“We can just get on with doing our job while filming happens – and it certainly makes the day fun sometimes. I hope this series encourages more people to want to become police officers.”
The mini cinema goes ‘on the road’ this month as part of NZ Police’s ongoing recruitment campaign and will be featured at other recruitment events across the country.
Roxy Cinema on Park Road, Miramar hosted today’s event, which was followed by a screening of the latest Fantastic Four movie, a fundraiser for Big Buddy New Zealand https://www.bigbuddy.org.nz/
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre.
Source: New Zealand Police
Acting Deputy Commissioner Jill Rogers, Minister of Police the Hon Mark Mitchell, members of the police executive and wing patron, Dame Noeline Taurua congratulated the 87 graduating constables from Wing 386 today.
Families and friends celebrated the newly attested police officers at Te Rauparaha Arena, Porirua this afternoon acknowledging the successful completion of their initial training course at the Royal New Zealand Police College (RNZPC).
There are some likeminded individuals in the wing with six of the graduates having previously worked in the Southern Police Emergency Communication Centre as 111 call takers.
Of the 33 recruits who were born overseas, seven of them were born in India.
Twenty-five recruits speak more than one language and 20 recruits have completed university degrees or postgraduate qualifications.
Both top award winners were leadership material from the get-go and won awards at their respective secondary schools.
Top award winner and former Katikati College Head Boy is Constable Kaha Bluegum of Ngāi Te Rangi iwi.
“The recruit training has taught me a lot about myself and it was a challenging time. Coming out of college I feel equipped with skills and knowledge that I did not have before. I look forward to being the change in the community and my whanau.
Kaha will be based in Waikato District.
Second Top/Patron’s Award winner and the winner of the Leadership Award is Leo Wynyard Winiata of Ngātiwai iwi. Leo, like Kaha, was Head Boy at his High School, Whangarei Boys.
“While training at the RNZPC, all I wanted to do was make my family proud and honour the sacrifices they have made for me to be here. I joined Police because I enjoy working with people.”
Leo will be based in Northland District.
Deployment:
The new constables will start their first day of duty in their Police districts on the week beginning Monday 11 August 2025 and will continue their training on the job as probationary constables.
Northland 7, Tāmaki Makaurau a total of 21 and broken down into the three districts: Auckland City 5, Waitematā 7, Counties Manukau 9, Waikato 5, Bay of Plenty 7, Eastern 6, Central 12, Wellington 13, Canterbury 10, Southern 6.
All Awards:
Minister’s Award recognising top student: Constable Kaha Bluegum posted to Waikato District.
Commissioner’s Award for Leadership and the Patron’s Award for second top student: Constable Leo Wynyard Winiata posted to Northland District.
The Driver Training and Road Policing Practice Award: Constable Kim Jepsen posted to Northland District.
The Firearms Award: Constable Chantelle Jordaan posted to Canterbury District.
The Physical Training and Defensive Tactics Award: Constable Christian Leathers posted to Central District.
Demographics:
28.7 percent are female, 71.3 percent are male. New Zealand European make up 67.8 percent of the wing, with Māori 11.5 percent, Pasifika 6.8 percent, Asian 12.6 percent, Other 1.1 percent.
Dame Noeline Taurua DNZM: Patron of Wing 386:
Dame Noeline Taurua (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Whātua) is a highly respected and accomplished netball coach and leader in high-performance sport. She is also a netball champion who represented New Zealand in the Silver Ferns. She became the Silver Ferns coach in 2018 and led the team to become world champions at the 2019 Netball World Cup. Success continued, with Noeline guiding the team to a bronze medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. In 2024, the Silver Ferns claimed the Constellation Cup from their Australian rivals. Her success spans both sides of the Tasman. She has coached Queensland’s Sunshine Coast Lightning team, the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic team, and the Southern Steel team.
Some of her recent awards acknowledging her coaching prowess have included Queensland Sport Coach of the Year (2018), Tai Tokerau Māori Sports Awards Coach of the Year (2018), Aotearoa Māori Sports Awards Coach of the Year (2019), Aotearoa Māori Sports Awards Supreme Award (2019), Halberg Coach of the Year (2020) and Halberg Leadership Award (2020).
As a netball player, Noeline was a goal attack for the Silver Ferns from 1993 to 1999, earning a silver medal at the 1998 Commonwealth Games and bronze at the 1995 Netball World Championships. Although a knee injury ended her 34-test playing career, her passion for the sport led to her illustrious coaching journey that has now spanned over 30 years.
In the 2020 New Year Honours, Noeline was appointed a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to netball. She has also received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia, for her leadership, commitment, and innovation in high-performance sport. Noeline currently serves on the High-Performance Sport New Zealand Board. She takes great pride in being a mother of five children and a grandmother to four.
ENDS
Watch out for our Ten One story coming soon with more images and stories.
If you’re interested in joining police check out newcops.govt.nz
Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: New Zealand Police
A joint Police-Customs investigation has unravelled a major transnational organised crime syndicate working with local gangs to import significant quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine into New Zealand.
Operation Matata has identified that the syndicate was allegedly smuggling Class A drugs through unattended baggage on international flights, primarily through Auckland International Airport.
The investigation has had two separate termination phases. The latest, on Wednesday, has seen nine people facing serious criminal and drugs charges. This follows an earlier 18 arrests on 24 June 2025 in the first phase.
In total 15 current and former baggage handlers employed by airline baggage handling agencies at Auckland International Airport were charged.
During the course of the investigation, Customs working alongside US authorities, seized 631 kilograms of methamphetamine and 112 kilograms of cocaine, stopping it from getting into our communities.
Putting it into perspective, this seizure would have provided nearly every Kiwi roughly six doses of methamphetamine each.
On Wednesday, Police and Customs investigators executed 19 search warrants across the Auckland region.
“Make no mistake, this investigation has exposed and disrupted a significant threat to New Zealand,” Detective Inspector Tom Gollan, of the National Organised Crime Group says.
“Police will allege the group’s operation involved placing unaccompanied bags on international flights, which were then covertly removed on arrival in Auckland by corrupt baggage handlers to avoid security protocols.”
Since the beginning of this year Police and Customs working closely with overseas law enforcement partners have disrupted and intercepted multiple drug shipments bound for New Zealand.
Flights have originated from Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Santiago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York.
Customs Investigations Manager Dominic Adams says New Zealand’s volume of legitimate trade and travel means the risk of criminal infiltration is very real.
“In tandem with the Police and our international partners and industry stakeholders, Customs is continuing to protect communities from the organised criminal groups who are attempting to exploit our international supply chains.
“These individuals are abusing their positions of trust to carry out crime, which not only affects New Zealand’s reputation as a safe place to do business but poses a dangerous threat to the wider community by bringing extremely harmful drugs into New Zealand.
“These arrests send a clear message that Customs and our agency and industry partners are tackling this issue head on, and a potential criminal conviction awaits those who choose to subvert the supply chain for their own gains.”
Detective Inspector Gollan says the most recent seizure was 50 kilograms of methamphetamine smuggled aboard a flight from Malaysia on 18 June 2025.
“It will be alleged one of the arrested individuals gained unauthorised airside access at Auckland International Airport and was observed piloting a baggage cart towards the aircraft,” he says.
“The man’s attempts were thwarted by a swift and coordinated response from Police, Customs and other agencies.”
Wednesday’s search warrants located approximately $150,000 in cash.
“Law enforcement continues to work with airport authorities and other companies to stamp out insider threats, making it difficult for criminal enterprises to operate in that environment,” Detective Inspector Gollan says.
“Multiple investigations over the last few years, reaching back to Operation Selena, means that we have a very good understanding now of any nefarious activity occurring around the arrival of planes and the deplaning of luggage.
“This knowledge has led to multiple arrests of baggage handlers and those people siting over the top of them as controllers.
“Work done to make the airport more resilient to this criminal behaviour has forced organised crime groups to modify the way they operate making them more vulnerable to discovery.”
Detective Inspector Gollan says this work continues.
“These syndicates operate for profit only, disregarding the misery these drugs would bring to communities across New Zealand.
“This is particularly the case with methamphetamine and these organised crime groups are intent on feeding the addiction of our people in vulnerable communities, of which saw meth consumption double in July last year.”
– 27 arrests to-date
– 631kg – methamphetamine seized.
– 31.5m – doses of methamphetamine seized
– $220.8m – retail value of methamphetamine seized
– $699.3m – estimated social harm figure
– 112kg – cocaine seized.
– 1.12m – doses of cocaine seized
– $50.4 – retail value of cocaine seized
– $33.6m – estimated social harm figure
ENDS.
Jarred Williamson/NZ Police
Source: New Zealand Police
Media are invited to the 386 Dame Noeline Taurua DNZM Police recruit wing graduation.
What: Graduation of the New Zealand Police 386 Recruit Wing.
Who: For families and friends to celebrate with the newly attested police officers.
Why: Completion and graduation from their initial training course.
Where: Te Rauparaha Arena, 17 Parumoana Street, Porirua.
When: Tomorrow, Thursday 31 July at 2pm – media will need to be in place by 1.45pm.
How: RSVP the Police Media Centre if you’re attending: media@police.govt.nz
Acting Deputy Commissioner Jill Rogers will be attending the ceremony, along with Minister of Police Hon Mark Mitchell and Her Worship Anita Baker, the Mayor of Porirua. Also attending will be members of the Police executive and Wing Patron Dame Noeline Taurua DNZM.
The 386 Wing Patron:
Dame Noeline Taurua (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Whātua) is a highly respected and accomplished netball coach and leader in high-performance sport. She is also a netball champion who represented New Zealand in the Silver Ferns.
She became the Silver Ferns coach in 2018 and led the team to become world champions at the 2019 Netball World Cup. Success continued, with Noeline guiding the team to a bronze medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. In 2024, the Silver Ferns claimed the Constellation Cup from their Australian rivals.
Her success spans both sides of the Tasman. She has coached Queensland’s Sunshine Coast Lightning team, the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic team; and the Southern Steel team.
Some of her recent awards acknowledging her coaching prowess have included Queensland Sport Coach of the Year (2018), Tai Tokerau Māori Sports Awards Coach of the Year (2018), Aotearoa Māori Sports Awards Coach of the Year (2019), Aotearoa Māori Sports Awards Supreme Award (2019), Halberg Coach of the Year (2020) and Halberg Leadership Award (2020).
As a netball player, Noeline was a goal attack for the Silver Ferns from 1993 to 1999, earning a silver medal at the 1998 Commonwealth Games and bronze at the 1995 Netball World Championships. Although a knee injury ended her 34-test playing career, her passion for the sport led to her illustrious coaching journey that has now spanned over 30 years.
In the 2020 New Year Honours, Noeline was appointed a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to netball. She has also received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia, for her leadership, commitment and innovation in high-performance sport.
Noeline currently serves on the High-Performance Sport New Zealand Board. She takes great pride in being a mother of five children and a grandmother to four.
More details about statistics, prize winners and other recruits will be shared after graduation on Thursday and a follow up Ten One story will be published later next month.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Team