NZ Engine

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

Source: New Zealand Police

Media invitation:

What:       Polar Plunge Christchurch; take part or donate:  https://specialolympics.org.nz/
Where:     New Brighton Beach Surf Lifesaving Club (Surf club is on Marine Parade between Lonsdale and Hawke Streets)
Why:        To raise funds and awareness for Special Olympics athletes and programmes across New Zealand.
When:      Saturday 2 August 2025, Plunge starts at 9am – check in any time after 8am.
Who:        Athletes, coaches, families, Police, emergency services and anyone else over the age of 12
How:        Register yourself or register a team. Choose a fun outfit or wear uniform, even a wetsuit – we won’t judge!
Contact:  Special Olympics: Liz Fitzgerald: events@specialolympics.org.nz  or
                 Police: Inspector Rupert Friend: phone 0211911263
RSVP:      Media Please RSVP your attendance for Saturday here: media@police.govt.nz

Special Olympics New Zealand is welcoming anyone who would like to take part in the Christchurch polar plunge. Police and other agencies will join Canterbury-based athletes on Saturday 2 August at 9am to brave the cold.

The fun and fundraising for New Zealand Special Olympics athletes will be held on the beach in front of the New Brighton Surf Club on Marine Parade, Christchurch.

Patron for the Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) New Zealand Commissioner of Police Richard Chambers is sorry to be missing the events due to work commitments, however says “Taking part in these events and lending our support is about helping a community whose athletes show hope, courage, and inspiration. As the patron for LETR New Zealand, I encourage everyone to participate in local events, including the LETR Final Leg for the National Summer Games in December and the Polar Plunge in Christchurch.” 

Inspector Rupert Friend, Director of Law Enforcement Torch Run New Zealand says, “Participants really enjoyed the Polar Plunge last Saturday in Wellington, and it was great to see such good team spirit and camaraderie. It was also a chance to mix with our counterparts from Wellington Free Ambulance, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and personnel from the Royal New Zealand Navy and members of the public who took part. Police have always been proud to support Special Olympics athletes through our communities with events like the Polar Plunge, The Flame of Hope, and the Special Olympic Games. We are thoroughly looking forward to the plunge taking place at New Brighton Beach on Saturday,” says Rupert.

Chief Executive from Special Olympics New Zealand Fran Scholey says, “The support of the New Zealand Police is hugely valued and helps the Special Olympic Programme continue to provide opportunities for an inclusive New Zealand. “Last weekend in Wellington we saw plungers raise over $18,000 for our cause, so this time we are freezin’ for a reason in Christchurch! Get a team together now and register and let’s see if we can beat the total from last year.   

“Thanks to the incredible generosity of those taking part in the Polar Plunge, our Special Olympics athletes are being given life-changing opportunities. Your support empowers individuals with intellectual and learning disabilities to experience the joy, pride, and connection that sport brings. Together, we’re creating a more inclusive and inspiring future, one plunge at a time,” says Fran.

The addition of the Christchurch Polar Plunge is part of raising awareness of the National Summer Games being held in the city in December where it is expected 1200 athletes will take part, in nine different sports across five days. Those games will also feature an LETR Final Leg, with complementary runs in the North and South Islands to maximise opportunities for Police staff to take part.

The Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) engages law enforcement worldwide to champion acceptance and inclusion for individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID), starting with their local communities. Your support empowers individuals with intellectual and learning disabilities to experience the joy, pride, and connection that sport brings.

The Christchurch Polar Plunge takes place at New Brighton Beach on Saturday 2 August 2025  – please register or donate here:  https://specialolympics.org.nz/

NB: All photos attached are from the Wellington Polar Plunge held last Saturday 26 July at Freyberg Beach, Oriental Bay.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Police

In an effort to simplify and provide a number of enhancements to the way offence data is presented, New Zealand Police, Statistics New Zealand and the wider Justice sector are implementing the revised Australian and New Zealand Standard Offence Classification (ANZSOC) 2023. 

This is the first significant review and revision of ANZSOC since its adoption in New Zealand in 2011.

From 31 July 2025 the ANZSOC classification will:

• See some offences renamed to use language that is easier for our community to understand.
• More offences will now be visible and included in our published data with details about types of assaults, sexual assaults, and burglary.
• Statistics will be republished back to July 2014 to allow for comparisons and trend analysis using the updated classification.

The updated standard ensures that ANZSOC is still fit for purpose – both for Police’s changing operational needs, and to improve transparency and visibility of offence data outside of Police.

“The ANZSOC revisions are a positive development. They have been made to provide more detailed groupings of offences, with the aim of improving the transparency and understanding of offence-related data in New Zealand,” says Assistant Commissioner Tusha Penny

The move to the revised ANZSOC standard enables a common independent classification for offences and will refine statistics relating to crime by providing comprehensive break downs of different types of offending and by using simpler descriptions.

Assistant Commissioner Penny highlighted one of the key differences is the revision of the category names to use uncomplicated language that is easier for Police staff and our community to understand.

Examples of where changes will occur include, Acts Intended to Cause Injury will be now named Assault, while Unlawful Entry with Intent/Burglary/Break and Enter changes to become Burglary.

The new classification offers greater granularity, there are more detailed break downs of burglary and assault and more offences are now visible and included in our published data. 

“Police’s currently available suite of statistics will be republished back to July 2014 to allow for uninterrupted comparisons and trend analysis using the updated ANZSOC 2023 standard,” says Assistant Commissioner Penny.

The revised ANZSOC 2023 standard was formally adopted on 1 July 2025 and will initiate a period of transition to ANZSOC 2023 in statistical data being released across the sector in the coming months.

ENDS

Background information

What is ANZSOC?

• The Australian and New Zealand Standard Offence Classification (ANZSOC) is a statistical framework that provides a common independent classification system for offences across the Justice Sector in New Zealand and Australia.
• The classification is shared with the Australian Police services and Justice sector, enabling enhanced comparability of offence and related statistics between agencies and jurisdictions.
• The ANZSOC classification system will also continue to be used across the Justice Sector agencies in New Zealand, and some other agencies such as Oranga Tamariki.

Offence data can be found at policedata.nz, and more details about the ANZSOC standard at Australian and New Zealand Standard Offence Classification (ANZSOC), 2023.

– Issued by the Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Police

A joint drug importation investigation has intercepted a record-breaking quantity of LSD brought into New Zealand.

Under Operation Spin, New Zealand Police and New Zealand Customs have been investigating the importation and supply of Class A controlled drugs from the United States into New Zealand.

Four search warrants were carried out in the Auckland region by the National Organised Crime Group last week.

Detective Senior Sergeant Reece Sirl says the operation located 40,800 LSD tabs, with a street value totalling more than a million dollars.

“According to Police records, this seizure is the largest quantity of LSD for New Zealand located in possession of a single individual,” he says.

“LSD is a potent psychoactive substance, and large quantities such as this are rarely encountered these days in New Zealand.”

Most recently, the largest seizure of LSD in New Zealand was in March 2023 with 10,029 seized by Customs. Prior to that, in 2000, Police seized two separate hauls of 14,000 tabs each.

“This is a pleasing result for the Operation Spin team,” says Detective Senior Sergeant Sirl.

A 30-year-old man has been charged with offences relating to the importation, possession and supply of cocaine and the possession for supply of LSD, while a 25-year-old male has been charged with importing cocaine.

Both men remain before the Waitākere District Court.

NOCG continues to work closely with domestic and international partners to identify and dismantle criminal networks involved in drug trafficking and distribution.

“Our focus as always is to continue targeting those that illegally accumulate cash and assets through the sale of illegal drugs,” Detective Senior Sergeant Sirl says.

“This seizure is another example of the work being carried out to make New Zealand more resilient to transnational organised crime.”

Enquiries into the drug offending will continue with Police expecting more charges to follow as further individuals are identified as being involved.

ENDS

Amanda Wieneke/NZ Police  

Source: New Zealand Police

Media invitation

What:      Polar Plunge Wellington, take part or donate:  https://specialolympics.org.nz/
Where:    Freyberg Beach, Oriental Bay, Wellington
Why:       To raise funds and awareness for Special Olympics athletes and programmes across New Zealand.
When:     Saturday 26 July 2025, 9am
Who:       Special Olympics athletes, coaches, families, Police, and other emergency services and anyone else over the age of 12
Contact:  Special Olympics contact: Liz Fitzgerald, events@specialolympics.org.nz and or Police contact: Inspector Rupert Friend phone 0211911263

RSVP:   Media to confirm attendance to media@police.govt.nz

Special Olympics New Zealand is welcoming anyone who would like to take part in a polar plunge.  Police and other agencies will join Wellington athletes on Saturday 26 July at 9am to take part.

The fun and fundraising for New Zealand Special Olympics athletes will be held at Freyberg Beach, Oriental Bay.

Patron for the Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) New Zealand, Commissioner of Police Richard Chambers is sorry to be missing the events due to work commitments, however says “Taking part in these events and lending our support is about helping a community whose athletes show hope, courage, and inspiration. As the patron for LETR New Zealand, I encourage everyone to participate in local events, including the LETR Final Leg for the National Summer Games in December and the Polar Plunges in Wellington and a week later in Christchurch.” 

Inspector Rupert Friend, Director of Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) New Zealand says, “Participants really enjoy the plunge – it’s great fun, good for building team spirit and camaraderie and it’s a chance to mix with our counterparts from partner agencies who join us.”
Police have always been proud to support athletes through our communities with events like the Polar Plunge, The Flame of Hope, and the Special Olympic Games. This is not the only New Zealand polar plunge event – The South Island won’t miss out, with a plunge taking place at New Brighton Beach on Saturday 2 August at 9am. The Wellington plunge has become a fixture on the calendar, but this is a first Special Olympics Polar Plunge for Christchurch. “We didn’t see why Wellingtonians should have all the fun,” says Rupert.

Chief Executive from Special Olympics New Zealand Fran Scholey says, “The support of the New Zealand Police is hugely valued and helps the Special Olympic Programme continue to provide opportunities for an inclusive New Zealand. “Last year in Wellington we saw 187 plungers raise over $27,000 for this worthy cause, so again we are freezin’ for a reason! Get a team together now and register and let’s see if we can beat the total from last year.  
“Thanks to the incredible generosity of those taking the Polar Plunge, our Special Olympics athletes are being given life-changing opportunities. Your support empowers individuals with intellectual and learning disabilities to experience the joy, pride, and connection that sport brings. Together, we’re creating a more inclusive and inspiring future, one plunge at a time,” says Fran.

The addition of the Christchurch Polar Plunge is part of raising awareness of the National Summer Games being held in the city in December where it is expected 1200 athletes will take part, in nine different sports across five days.

Those games will also feature an LETR Final Leg, with complementary runs in the North and South Islands to maximise opportunities for Police staff to take part.

The Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) engages law enforcement worldwide to champion acceptance and inclusion for individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID), starting with their local communities. Public support empowers individuals with intellectual and learning disabilities to experience the joy, pride, and connection that sport brings.

Wellington Polar Plunge takes place at Freyberg Beach, Oriental Bay on Saturday 26 July 2025
Christchurch Polar Plunge takes place at New Brighton Beach on Saturday 2 August 2025

You can register or donate for both events here:  https://specialolympics.org.nz/

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Police

The Police Media Centre will operate at reduced capacity tomorrow, Friday 25 July, to enable staff to undertake professional development.

A small team will be available between 6am and 8pm to respond to urgent queries and significant events.

Other queries may be held for a response in the coming days.

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to ensure our team provides the best possible service.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Police

Police are appealing to the public for information on the whereabouts of Mark Eruiti Taute, 51.

He is wanted in relation to a number of offences and Police believe someone may have information on his whereabouts.

Taute is believed to be actively evading Police and should not be approached.

Anyone with information is urged to call 111 immediately and quote file number 250501/7137.

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

ENDS

Issued by the Police Media Centre.

Source: New Zealand Police

Police are now able to release the name of the man who died at the Mt Eden Corrections Facility on Friday, 27 June.

He was Robert Norman Fitzpatrick, 46, of Whangārei.

Police continue to offer sympathy to family and whānau at this difficult time.

A man has been charged with murder and the matter is before the Court.

ENDS.

Nicole Bremner/NZ Police

Source: New Zealand Police

Police conducting a homicide investigation following the death of a man in Ōtara on Friday evening can now release his name.

He was Greig Kelvin Temarama-Abela, 19, of Auckland.

Police extend our thoughts to his whānau and friends at this difficult time.

Detective Inspector Tofilau Faamanuia Vaaelua, Counties Manukau CIB, says a 19-year-man has been remanded in custody charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm in relation to a second victim from the altercation.

“The investigation team is continuing to assess every line of enquiry available to us.

“We would like to thank the members of the community who have assisted with this investigation so far, and encourage anyone who is yet to speak with us to please come forward.”

If you can help, please call 105 and quote reference number 250802/7178.

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

ENDS.

Holly McKay/NZ Police

Source: New Zealand Police

Police can provide a short update in an investigation into a child being located in a suitcase in a bus luggage compartment in Kaiwaka on 3 August.

Acting Detective Inspector Simon Harrison, of Waitematā CIB, says the child is medically well and we are working with whānau and our partner agencies to ensure the child is cared for.

A 27-year-old woman has been charged with ill-treatment/neglect of a child and will appear in North Shore District Court today.

“We appreciate there is high public interest with what has happened,” acting Detective Inspector Harrison says.

“However given the circumstances concerning the child, and the matter being before the Court, we are unable to provide further comment.

“Our focus is on ensuring the child is well-supported and we are working with Oranga Tamariki in relation to this matter.”

ENDS.

Holly McKay/NZ Police