NZ Engine

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Attribute to Road Policing Manager Inspector Angela Hallett

Police are investigating a serious crash involving an off-road bike in Hastings this afternoon.

About 2pm, a motorcycle crashed on Canning Road, between Hapia Street and Orchard Road. As the bike skidded along the ground it hit a nurse outside a café, causing her moderate injuries.

One of the two juvenile on the bike received critical injuries, while the second received serious injuries. Police have established the rider was a 14-year-old, carrying a 17-year-old passenger.

We are still piecing together the events, but initial indications suggest the bike was one of two travelling at speed along Canning Road and may have been attempting to undertake a turning vehicle when the crash happened.

Both bikes are believed to have been the subject of complaints a short time earlier, though were not being pursued at the time of the crash.

I want to commend the swift actions of medical staff who rushed to assist the injured parties, and the professionalism of Police staff. Officers at the scene were forced to form a barrier between the first responders and a number of people who arrived on scene and became abusive at the people who were trying to help.

Police also arrested one man for breaching bail, after he drove a car onto the footpath at the crash scene.

The investigation into the crash is in its early stages and no charges have yet been laid. We are speaking to a number of people and will be making follow up enquiries over the coming days.

The road was closed for a time while a scene examination was carried out but has since reopened.

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Issued by the Police Media Centre

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Police are now in the position to release the name of the man who died following a crash on State Highway 2, Tangoio on 16 April.

He was Glen Stephen Harrison, 64.

Police extend our condolences to his family and friends at this difficult time.

Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.

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Issued by Police Media Centre. 

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To be attributed to Detective Inspector Marty James, District Manager Criminal Investigations:

Eastern District Police have today been issued a Gang Conflict Warrant, following several incidents stemming from ongoing tensions between Mongrel Mob and Black Power.

At around 10:45pm on Tuesday night, shots were fired at houses in Wairoa associated with both gangs, and a Napier house connected to one of the gangs was targeted this morning. 

We’re also aware of a number of alleged gang-related incidents in Wairoa that have not been reported to us, including assaults, vehicle rammings, other damage to cars, and threatening behaviour.

A significant operation is under way across Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay in response to this senseless violence between the two gangs, and the Gang Conflict Warrant issued today gives us valuable additional powers to draw on.

The Gang Conflict Warrant is issued under the Criminal Activity Intervention Legislation Act and gives us special powers to search vehicles of suspected gang members, and to seize firearms, weapons and vehicles.

The violence we are seeing from these two gangs – particularly those incidents where firearms are involved – is absolutely unacceptable in our communities.

The residents of our communities have the right to be able to go about their daily lives without fearing for their safety from gang-related violence. They’ve had enough and so have we.

As part of our investigation into the recent offending, officers in Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay will be stopping vehicles with links to gang members and searching gang-related addresses. 

Officers will also be maintaining a highly visible presence in our communities to provide reassurance.

We are determined to hold those responsible for the recent offending to account and gang members should be on notice that we will not tolerate this ongoing violence.

Today we arrested two men in relation to the incident in Wairoa on Tuesday night. The two men – aged 18 and 35 – have been charged with aggravated burglary and possession of offensive weapons. Further arrests are likely in the coming days.
 

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Issued by Police Media Centre. 

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Two people are before the courts after Police executed two search warrants at addresses in Te Karaka, in relation to unlawful hunting in the region.

The warrants were executed on Thursday 17 April, resulting in Police locating and seizing a firearm, ammunition, and a large amount of cannabis.

Two men, aged 32 and 40, are due to appear in the Gisborne District Court tomorrow (23 April), facing charges of unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition, unlawful hunting and cultivating cannabis.

Poaching and unlawful hunting continues to be an ongoing issue across the wider district, not only for personal safety reasons but also for the flow on effect from the damage caused to the forestry and farmers properties.
These two arrests are a pleasing result, and Police will continue to work hard to hold offenders to account.

Police urge anybody who has been a victim of poaching to make a report to Police via 105.

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Issued by Police Media Centre

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Police are advising the public about a planned training exercise taking place at Mānawa Bay tonight.

This has been in planning with support from emergency services as well as our partners at Auckland Airport and Mānawa Bay.

Please be advised that the exercise is taking place outside of Mānawa Bay’s operating hours.

Volunteers will be taking part in the exercise and the centre is not open to the general public.

The public will see a presence of Police and other emergency services outside Mānawa Bay.

There is no cause for alarm.

Police will provide updates when the exercise commences and when it is completed.

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Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

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A firearm and ammunition have been seized after a vehicle was detected travelling through Manurewa with false plates.

A van had been travelling along Rowandale Avenue at around midnight.

Counties Manukau Central Area Prevention Manager Inspector Warrick Adkin says the vehicle raised suspicions of frontline staff.

“Their suspicions were raised further as the van’s registration details were not stored in the database,” he says.

“A traffic stop was carried out and it was quickly established the vehicle was bearing false plates and was actually stolen from Takanini last week.”

The driver and passenger were both placed under arrest.

“Further information was provided to the staff that there was ammunition in the vehicle, and a further search was invoked,” Inspector Adkin says.

Officers located shotgun cartridges as well as a cutdown shotgun concealed inside, which were seized.

The 38-year-old driver has been charged with unlawful possession of a shotgun, unlawful possession of ammunition and unlawfully taking a motor vehicle.

He is appearing in the Manukau District Court today.

“It’s a great result from our staff who remain vigilant and continue to work to make our community a safer place,” Inspector Adkin says.

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Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

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Police acknowledge the findings of the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) over the use of force on a male prisoner.

In November 2023, Police staff received a 19-year-old man into custody at the Manukau District Custody Unit.

Mr X began banging his head against a wall after being placed into a holding cell.

Custody staff began to engage with Mr X to get him to stop, which was unsuccessful, and Custody Officer A entered the cell, using force in an attempt to restrain him.

Mr X was removed from the holding cell after additional custody officers entered and removed him.

While Mr X was being removed, Custody Officer A punched him to the face after believing he was about to spit on him.

The IPCA’s investigation found that Custody Officer A should not have intervened by himself, and the use of force was unjustified to restrain Mr X.

It also found that the use of force to stop the man spitting was justified, however the punching to the face was excessive.

Police acknowledge these findings.

Counties Manukau District Commander Superintendent Shanan Gray says Police have a general duty of care to all people in custody, of which 120,000 are managed across the country every year.

“That day the staff felt they needed to act with urgency after the detainee had hit his head against the wall multiple times with escalating intensity,” he says.

“We accept the staff present could have had better coordination around a plan for a safer approach to the unfolding situation.”

Police carried out an investigation into the actions of Custody Officer A.

Superintendent Gray says: “While there was insufficient evidence to lay criminal charges, our investigation found that the actions of punching Mr X to the face with a closed fist was unreasonable and unnecessary given the circumstances.

“A disciplinary process has since been carried out, the details of which remain confidential.

“However, I can confirm Custody Officer A remains employed by New Zealand Police.”

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Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

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Another set of eyes and ears are on patrol, with the launch of the much anticipated Takanini Community Patrol this week.

The patrol launches after an 18-month joint effort between Community Patrols of New Zealand (CPNZ) and NZ Police, with support from the Supreme Sikh Society. The new service includes two new community patrol vehicles to help prevent crime and reduce harm in the local area.

Counties Manukau District Commander, Superintendent Shanan Gray, says community patrols are invaluable to Police, keeping an eye on neighbourhoods and providing valuable intelligence to Police who cannot be everywhere at once.

“Police are aware of community concerns around some of the behaviour in the Takanini area, and have been working hard to make ensure our locals continue to feel safe.

“Our patrols have also focused on engaging with our community, but the issues aren’t something that Police alone can solve.

“We are continuing to work with both the community and our partner agencies to address any concerns and these volunteers are our eyes and ears and are part of the Police family.”

CPNZ chairman Chris Lawton says community patrols are made up of volunteers working with Police in their own community to help deliver a safer environment for everyone to live in.

“We would really like to thank Police staff at Counties Manukau South for their great work in helping to get this up and running, they are so invested in their community and it shows.

“Also of course a special thanks to Mahindra for the two vehicles, having access to these to continue to keep Takanini a safe place to live and work is vital.”

Mr Lawton says the official launch was also an opportunity to highlight the Pathways to Police program, which combines community patrol with active Police work.

“This dual role allows you to undergo comprehensive training while actively participating in Police operations, fostering a hands-on experience in law enforcement.”

For more information, go to www.cpnz.org.nz  

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Holly McKay/NZ Police

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Attributable to Detective Inspector Karen Bright:

Police have filed an assault charge in relation to the homicide of a woman found in a car in Waiuku on Friday.

A post-mortem has been conducted today.

A 50-year-old man police have been speaking with is due to appear in Pukekohe District Court on Monday, charged with male assaults female.

Police cannot rule out further charges.

Scene examinations at two locations in the area are ongoing as part of our enquiries.

Police are not seeking anyone else in relation to the woman’s death.

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Issued by Police Media Centre

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Attributable to Detective Inspector Karen Bright:

Counties Manukau Police have launched a homicide enquiry following the discovery of a woman’s body in a vehicle in Waiuku yesterday.

Police were called to the area around 5:40pm on Friday 11 April.

A scene examination is underway, and a post-mortem will be conducted tomorrow.

A 50-year-old man has been taken into custody and is assisting Police with our enquiries.

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Issued by Police Media Centre