NZ Engine

Source: New Zealand Government

New Zealand welcomes the announcement of the first phase of the US-led peace deal between Israel and Hamas, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.

“Over the past two years, both Israelis and Palestinians have suffered immensely,” Mr Peters says. “Today is a positive first step in bringing that suffering to an end.”

“We commend the efforts of the parties involved in the negotiations, including the US, Egypt, Qatar, and Türkiye.

“We said in New York two weeks ago that countries with leverage over the situation needed to step up and show leadership. We commend them for doing just that.

“We have long called for the release of all the hostages and for a ceasefire, so that the immense suffering can end. The parties must now deliver on their promises. Hamas needs to release all of the hostages and Israel must withdraw their troops to the agreed-upon line. 

“This is an essential first step towards achieving lasting peace. We urge Israel and Hamas to continue working towards a complete resolution.

“There has been a lot of protest in New Zealand over the past two years relating to the situation in Gaza. We look forward to all those protestors, and their political allies in Parliament, joining the Government today in applauding the deal that has been struck,” Mr Peters says.

Source: New Zealand Government

Frontline roles in the public service have increased in the past two years, while spending on contractors and consultants has fallen $915 million, Public Service Minister Judith Collins says.  

“We committed to ensuring taxpayers get better value for money from their public service, and that every dollar is used in the best way possible,” Ms Collins says.  

“Since taking office, the Government has made substantial savings by reducing contractor and consultant spending across the public service by $915m – more than double the savings target of $400m.  

“I have made clear the Government’s expectation that contractor and consultant spending be kept below the new lower level of $1.25b across the public sector.   

“At the same time, we have reduced the size of the public service by nearly 5 percent since coming into Government – to 62,654 full-time equivalents (FTEs) as at 30 June – while crucially boosting frontline roles. 

“In the two years to 30 June, the estimated number of frontline roles grew 6.9 percent (1883 FTEs), while the size of the back office declined by 6.5 percent – equivalent to a reduction of 2345 FTEs, in areas such as policy analysts, clerical and administrative roles and managers. 

“The emphasis has shifted following Government direction to prioritise savings in back-office functions while protecting and improving frontline services.” 

There were 1533 redundancies in the past year, reflecting the scale of the restructure needed to rebalance the workforce, and redundancy payments totalled $80.4m.  

“Redundancy costs need to be seen in the context of overall savings, with public sector costs reducing by $1.5 billion a year – savings which are ongoing,” Ms Collins says.  

“These changes are about delivering better value for money and ensuring the public service is focused on delivering the services New Zealanders need and which make a difference in their lives. Today’s results are a sign that our approach is working.” 

Source: New Zealand Police

Police can now confirm the name of the victim of the homicide in New Lynn on Monday, 6 October.

He was 32-year-old Joseph David Walsh, of Auckland.

Detective Senior Sergeant Ryan Bunting, Waitematā CIB, says a 28-year-old man has been remanded in custody to appear in Auckland High Court on 22 October, charged with Mr Walsh’s murder.

“Police extend our thoughts to Mr Walsh’s whānau and friends at this difficult time.”

ENDS.

Holly McKay/NZ Police

Source: New Zealand Government

Tenants and landlords will soon benefit from clear rules for safely managing methamphetamine residue in rental properties, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says.

“For too long, a lack of legislative rules for acceptable levels of methamphetamine residue in rentals has caused long-standing confusion and disproportionate responses to low levels, which evidence shows are unlikely to pose any risk. 

“Landlords and tenants deserve clarity on when rentals must be tested for residue, what should be done to ensure risks are managed, and how these issues should be navigated during a tenancy.

“Following extensive public and scientific consultation, the Government is improving the rental market across the board by establishing clear rules to ensure safe, cost-effective, and proportionate approaches are put in place. These are:

• Rental properties will be deemed contaminated if methamphetamine residue exceeds 15µg/100cm² and will require decontamination until levels are at or below 15µg/100cm².
• When methamphetamine residue levels are above 30µg/100cm² landlords and tenants will have the option of quickly ending the tenancy.
• Landlords will be required to engage professional testers in specific circumstances where there is evidence of contamination.
• Testing and decontamination will follow scientifically robust processes, drawing on key elements of the relevant New Zealand Standard 8510:2017 Testing and decontamination of methamphetamine-contaminated properties.
• Clear rules will govern the handling of abandoned goods in contaminated properties, balancing safety with fairness.

“We’re taking a safe, precautionary approach,” Mr Potaka says. 

“People can have confidence that these regulations have been informed by expert advice, including from the New Zealand Institute for Public Health and Forensic Science, with input from a wide range of stakeholders including tenants, landlords, community housing providers, academic experts and testing and decontamination industry organisations, among others.

“The regulations are expected to come into force next year.”

Source: New Zealand Police

Northbound lanes on Dunedin Southern Motorway are closed near Kaikorai Valley Road following a two-vehicle crash.

Diversions are in place onto Kaikorai Valley Road.

Motorists should expect delays.

Emergency services were alerted to the crash about 7:20am.

ENDS 

Source: New Zealand Government

New Zealand businesses will have a better shot at winning government contracts as a result of changes to government procurement rules, Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis says. 

“The new rules agreed to by Cabinet will take effect on 1 December.

“More than 900 submissions were received during consultation on the new rules earlier this year,” Nicola Willis says.

“Businesses shared that the lack of weighting for New Zealand’s interests in the evaluation criteria was holding them back. That’s why we’re introducing a new economic benefit to New Zealand test that will apply to every procurement to ensure we are creating value and jobs for Kiwis. 

“We want to see taxpayer money supporting Kiwi businesses to grow, hire, and thrive.

“We also heard loud and clear that the paperwork, time and complexity were making it hard for small to medium-sized businesses to apply for government contracts. We’ve listened and these updated, simpler rules will make it easier for businesses to follow and apply the rules.

“Government contracts are collectively worth more than $50 billion a year. The purpose of these changes is to make it easier for New Zealand businesses to win more of these contracts, either directly, or as subcontractors in the supply chain.

“In addition to the new economic benefit test, the number of rules has been slashed  from 71 to 47, making them more accessible and easier to navigate.

“The new rules will apply to all goods, services, and refurbishment contracts worth more than $100,000 and all construction contracts over $9 million.

“Contracts below these thresholds are expected to be awarded to capable local businesses.

“The economic benefit test is intended to not only support more Kiwi businesses to compete for government work but to encourage international companies bidding for government contracts to demonstrate a commitment to creating value in New Zealand.

“These changes not only help level the playing field but help ensure that taxpayer money is spent responsibly and efficiently and maintains public trust as well as supporting local businesses. 

“New Zealand respects its international trade commitments and the settings in the Rules continue to uphold our obligations. This is important to ensure that Kiwi businesses continue to benefit from open access to large international markets.”

The 5^th edition of the Government Procurement Rules is available on the New Zealand Government Procurement website. 

Businesses can find Government procurement opportunities advertised on the Government Electronic Tenders Service (GETS) website.

Note for Editors

The new economic benefit test means that when government agencies decide who to buy from, they must assess the wider benefit to New Zealand as well as  price and quality.

The new rule that says at least 10 per cent of the decision must be based on how much a business’s proposal benefits the economy. That means giving extra weight to things like:

• Using New Zealand businesses to deliver contracts
• Creating jobs  
• Offering training and development to upskill New Zealand workers

Source: New Zealand Police

Media are invited to the 388 Wally Haumaha – Te Arawa and Ngāti Ngāraranui, ONZM and QSM recruit wing graduation.

What:              Graduation of the New Zealand Police 388 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:             Thursday 9 October at 10am – media will need to be in place by 9.45pm.
How:               RSVP the Police Media Centre if you’re attending: media@police.govt.nz

Police Commissioner Richard Chambers will attend the ceremony along with members of the Police executive and Wing Patron, former Deputy Police Commissioner Wally Haumaha – Te Arawa and Ngāti Ngāraranui, ONZM and QSM.

Top award winner, Recruit Hayden McNulty says he is proud to be graduating alongside his wing colleagues. The former fitness coach, Hawke’s Bay Rugby strength and conditioning coach and high school athletics coach was also awarded with the Physical Training and Defensive Tactics Prize.

“The biggest takeaway from training in my opinion is the new connections I have made and pieces of advice I have taken from every other member of my wing. There’s no way I would have graduated without the expertise and support of each and every one of them,” says Hayden.

Hayden will be deployed to Counties Manukau District following graduation.

The 388 Wing Patron:

Former Deputy Police Commissioner Wally Haumaha – Te Arawa, Tainui, Mataatua, ONZM and QSM.

The former teacher spent 40 years in policing and was one of the architects of Police’s transformed relationships with iwi and other communities. It’s a career which has put him ringside – and often in the ring – for many defining events in New Zealand’s recent history. He graduated from Wing 89 and served in Rotorua until 2004, apart from a two-year break to help his family set up a retail business. He worked frontline, CIB, as section supervisor, District Community Relations Coordinator and Māori Responsiveness Advisor – then in 2004 he was seconded to Police National Headquarters at inspector rank as Strategic Māori Advisor. From its creation in 2007, he has helmed Māori Pacific and Ethnic Services (MPES), which became part of the new Iwi and Communities group, with Wally its Deputy Commissioner, in 2020. Wally Haumaha joined OSACO Group as Director Leadership and Innovation in March 2024 after retiring from Police. Based in Aotearoa New Zealand, OSACO is a proudly Māori-led organisation.

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 Centre

Source: New Zealand Police

Police have confirmed the fatal fire last Thursday morning in Bucklands Beach is now being treated as a double homicide.

Detective Inspector Tofilau Faamanuia Vaaelua, Counties Manukau District Crime Manager, says emergency services attended the home in Murvale Drive at around 2.30am.

“When Police and Fire and Emergency NZ arrived, the home was fully engulfed in flames.

“Three people were able to escape the fire, while sadly two people were not, and were found deceased inside the home.”

Detective Inspector Vaaelua says investigators have worked tirelessly on the case to piece together what has taken place.

“Our investigations have led us to now confirm that the fire was intentional, and this is now a double homicide.

“Fire investigators have confirmed accelerant has been found at the scene,” Detective Inspector Vaaelua says.

“The scene examination of the home was completed on Sunday, however due to the circumstances it remains under Police guard.”

The postmortems have been completed on those who perished in the fire.

“One victim can be confirmed as a 36-year-old father of two,” he says.

“Although we have not yet been able to formally identify the second victim, we are confident that he is the 11-year-old son.”

The two other victims who were taken to hospital have now both been discharged and are coming to terms with this devastating outcome.

Detective Inspector Vaaelua says someone was responsible for the death of this father and son and is calling on the public to help.

“Police are now moving onto an area canvass and CCTV phase of this investigation,” he says.

“We are appealing to the public, specifically those who live on or around Murvale Drive, for any footage you may have of the road, street, surrounding properties in the days and hours leading up to the fire.

“We want to hear from anyone who has any information at all that they think may help.

“Nothing is too small or irrelevant.”

Detective Inspector Vaaelua says Police would also like to acknowledge the family involved in this tragedy.

“This is understandably an extremely traumatic time for them.

“We are determined to provide them with answers and bring this to a close so they can try and move forward with their lives.

“It is imperative we find who is responsible for this.”

Police urge anyone with information to contact Police online or call 105 using the reference number 251002/9501.

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

ENDS.

Amanda Wieneke/NZ Police

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

Nelson/Tasman residents are being urged to have their say on a proposed new Intersection Speed Zone where State Highway 6 and Ellis Street/River Terrace meet near Brightwater.

Intersection Speed Zones improve the safety at rural intersections on high-speed roads.

They detect approaching traffic intending to turn into or out of side roads and activate an electronic variable speed limit sign to temporarily show a lower legal speed limit on the main road.

This makes it easier and safer for people to pull into or out of a side road across a high-speed rural road or highway.  

Mark Owen, Regional Manager Lower North Island / Top of the South, says it is about creating a more forgiving environment and reducing harm at a high-risk intersection. 

“There have been community concerns about safety at the Ellis Street and River Terrace Road intersection.”

“With approximately 11,500 vehicles travelling between Hope and Brightwater, and 8,500 between Brightwater and Wakefield each day, the proposed changes will make this busy intersection safer for everyone – drivers, residents, and businesses.” Mr Owen says.

Mr Owen says the proposal is to introduce a variable speed limit of 60 km/h.

“This is a speed limit that is safe and appropriate for the intersection and will make it safer.”

“Reducing traffic speed means crashes are less likely because drivers will have more time to react to mistakes and avoid collisions. If a crash does happen, lower speeds reduce the risk of death or serious injury for those involved,” Mr Owen says.

He says the lower speed limit will only operate when people are using this intersection to join or leave the state highway.

“At all other times, the speed limit will remain 80 km/h along State Highway 6 at this location.”

Mr Owen says intersection speed zones and the variable speed signs have other safety benefits as well.

“They increase the awareness of drivers on the main road to vehicles approaching on side roads. It means they are more prepared for unexpected events like another vehicle turning in front of them.”

Consultation runs from 13 October 2025 and closes on 24 November 2025.

Feedback can be given online at – www.nzta.govt.nz/brightwaterISZ(external link) (link live from 13 October).

If you have any questions, please email BrightwaterISZ@nzta.govt.nz

Source: New Zealand Police

Police will be part of something special this weekend, supporting Auckland’s Special Olympics athletes to carry the Flame of Hope in support of The Special Olympics Games.
The games are to be held at the new Wolfbrook Arena in Christchurch from Wednesday 10 until Sunday 14 of December this year.
Media is invited to attend the three exciting events in the Auckland area this weekend for the Law Enforcement Torch Run.
The events take place in central Auckland on Saturday and two venues in south Auckland on Sunday. Media are welcome at all three events to take photos, video footage and conduct interviews with athletes and officers.

What:   Saturday Law Enforcement Torch Run Auckland Central
Where:  Meet at Victoria Park at the intersection of Victoria Street West and Beaumont Street (Freemans Bay Auckland).
When:  Saturday 11 October 2025 at 10am
Who:    District Special Olympics athletes, coaches, families and police
What:   Law Enforcement Torch Run for Auckland Central Police.

What:   Sunday Law Enforcement Torch Run Weymouth, South Auckland
Where:  Meet at Mountfort Park, 10 Sykes Road Weymouth (Opposite the swimming pools).
When:  Sunday 12 October 2025 at 10am
Who:    District Special Olympics athletes, coaches, families and police
What:   First Law Enforcement Torch Run for Counties Manukau District.

What:   Sunday Law Enforcement Torch Run Pukekohe, South Auckland
Where:  Meet at Navigation Homes Stadium, (Lower car park), 21 Stadium Drive, Pukekohe.
When:  Sunday 12 October 2025 at 2pm
Who:    District Special Olympics athletes, coaches, families and police
What:   Second Law Enforcement Torch Run for Counties Manukau District.

Police contact: Inspector Mark Harrison 021 1907 805
Special Olympics contact: Coen Lammers 021 730 239

Known as Guardians of the Flame, police members, along with Special Olympics athletes, will carry the Flame of Hope as it traverses the country to get local communities excited about the upcoming December Games.
Athletes, supporters and Police staff will assemble at the three different Auckland locations to run the flame.
“Lighting the Flame of Hope means that the games are just around the corner,” says Special Olympics Chief Executive Fran Scholey. The New Zealand Law Enforcement Torch Run that starts in Northland on October 4 will travel all the way down to Southland, before it ends up in Christchurch in the week before the games start.

The countdown is on!

Inspector Rupert Friend, New Zealand Police says, “We are always proud to take part in the Law Enforcement Torch Run to help raise awareness and funds for the Special Olympics movement.
“The Torch Run has grown over the years and now includes many fundraising platforms including Polar Plunges.
We held two plunges in Wellington and Christchurch this year where a total of $26,000 was raised for our New Zealand athletes.
“The Law Enforcement Torch Run is a worldwide organisation and celebrated this year raising $1 billion to support the athletes of Special Olympics.
We encourage all kiwis to come out and show their support at Torch Run events up and down the country from October to December leading up to the games.”

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre