NZ Engine

Source: New Zealand Police

Police are seeking the public’s help to identify the woman pictured in these images.

We believe she may be able to assist us with our enquiries into a theft outside a business on Great North Road, Point Chevalier on Thursday 31 July at about 8pm.

If this is you, or you know who this woman is, please update us online now or call 105.

Please use the reference number 250801/6338.

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

ENDS.

Holly McKay/NZ Police

Source: New Zealand Police

Please attribute to Senior Sergeant Steph Hudson, Northland Road Policing Team Leader:

Police have laid charges against one of the drivers involved in a crash on State Highway 1, Oakleigh on 27 September.

Around 5.40pm emergency services attended the crash between two vehicles, one of which was towing a trailer.

There were no serious injuries as a result of the crash.

A 35-year-old man has appeared in the Whangārei District Court charged with failing to stop to ascertain injury, driving while suspended and careless driving. He has been remanded in custody to reappear on 20 October.

Police are continuing to ask anyone that may have witnessed the crash or have dashcam footage to please get in touch.

If you can help us in our enquiries, please contact Police on 105 and reference file number 250928/6133.

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

ENDS.

Amanda Wieneke/NZ Police

Source: New Zealand Police

Police have made developments in the ongoing homicide investigation into the death of Kyle Whorrall over five months ago.

Kyle, a 33-year-old US national, was senselessly murdered at a bus stop on St Johns Road on 19 April 2025.

The Police investigation into Kyle’s death has been ongoing and investigators have renewed their focus in the case.

Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin says new information led detectives to Maybury Reserve in Glen Innes on Monday morning.

Police continue to search for several items of interest in the investigation, which remain outstanding.

“A search was conducted through a section of the reserve by the Police Specialist Search Group as well as a dog handler,” he says.

“As a result of that, Police have located a machete concealed in part of the reserve and this item has been seized for further forensic examination.”

The Operation Aberfeldy investigation team have continued to search for the weapon used to inflict the fatal injury on Kyle that Saturday night.

“No one deserves the ordeal that Kyle went through in the last moments of his life, after sustaining horrific injuries at the bus stop,” Detective Inspector Baldwin says.

“We have been searching for a bladed weapon, so at this stage it’s unclear whether this machete is linked to our enquiry, and we will await results from PHF Science.”

Two people remain before the Court at this point in the investigation. A 16-year-old male has been charged with Kyle’s murder.

Meanwhile, a 33-year-old woman faces two charges of being an accessory after the fact for murder.

Police continue to appeal to those with information to come forward.

Detective Inspector Baldwin says there are people in the community that know who else was in the offending vehicle the night of Kyle’s death.

“I want to be very clear that there is an opportunity here for anyone with information to do the right thing, come forward and speak to us.

“This is not going away. We have a team of investigators who are not going away.

“Police have not come to search Maybury Reserve by mistake, and we will continue to seek answers for Kyle’s family.”

Police encourage anyone with information to contact Police online or call 105 using the reference number 250419/9858, or Operation Aberfeldy.

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

ENDS.

Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

• Additional video footage:

Police have additional B-Roll footage of search activity at Maybury Reserve available for media.

Please email media@police.govt.nz for a copy.

ENDS.

Source: New Zealand Government

Whakaeteete mai ko Hikurangi!

A $6 million investment into the Raukūmara Pae Maunga restoration project will fortify local employment and iwi-led conservation against destructive pests, Conservation Minister Tama Potaka says.

Located in the Raukūmara Range by the eastern Bay of Plenty, the project is a partnership between Ngāti Porou, Te-Whānau-ā-Apanui and the Department of Conservation – Te Papa Atawhai delivering large-scale pest control, forest regeneration, community engagement, and species protection.

“This beautiful native forest harbours critically endangered pepeketua/Hochstetter’s frog and Raukūmara/tusked wētā, brown kiwi, whio, and pekapeka/ long–tailed bats – all suffering the perils of deer, goats and possums.

“We’re boosting protection by backing the project, which employs 28 local iwi staff providing specialist conservation training including in biosecurity, kiwi handling, and aerial hunting to the highest safety standards.

“First established in 2020, Raukūmara Pae Maunga is also developing a new generation of indigenous conservation leaders – with over 1000 tamariki and rangatahi engaged in taiao learning and 14 kura involved in taiao programmes.

“Using innovative technology like DNA surveying of deer densities and advanced thermal-assisted detection technology in deer culling, Raukūmara Pae Maunga enhances New Zealand’s international reputation in nature-based solutions.

“Last year, the project delivered the largest aerial 1080 operation in the North Island, covering 116,000 hectares. This provided a vital lifeline for native species recovery with pre- and post-1080 monitoring showing rats were temporarily reduced to undetectable levels and an initial 73% knock down of possums.

“Today’s announcement of $2 million a year over three years to 2028

draws from $55 million additional conservation funding budgeted for 2026/27 from the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy.”

Images:

Raukūmara Ranges.jpg: Raukūmara Pae Maunga is helping to protect some of the biggest native forest from mountain to sea in the North Island. 

Outlook1.jpg and outlook2.jpg: Raukūmara Pae Maunga aerial deer and goat culler Caleb Wharepapa, left, talks about the project’s conservation efforts with Conservation Minister Tama Potaka and MP for East Coast Dana Kirkpatrick on a recent trip.

Te tautoko i te tiaki kanorau koiora e arahina ana e te iwi

Whakaeteete mai ko Hikurangi!

Ka whakapakaritia e te haumitanga o te $6 miriona ki te kaupapa whakahaumanu i te Pae Maunga o Raukūmara, te whiwhinga mahi i te rohe rā, me te whāomoomo e arahina ana e te iwi hei tāmi i ngā kīrearea kino, ko tā Te Minita Whāomoomo, ko tā Tama Potaka.

He patuitanga te kaupapa, i waenga i a Ngāti Porou rātou ko Te Whānau-a-Apanui ko Te Papa Atawhai, i te Pae Maunga o Raukūmara, i te rāwhiti o Te Moana-a-Toi. Tukua ai e te kaupapa te mahi whakahaere kīrearea whānui, te whakahaumanu ngahere, te tūhononga hapori, me te tiakanga o ngā momo.

“Kei tēnei ngahere taketake, e rerehua ana, te pepeketua me te wētā o Raukūmara, e tata korehāhā ana, te kiwi, te whio, te pekapeka – e whakataumahatia katoatia ana ēnei ki ngā mōrearea o te tia, o te nanekoti, o te paihamu hoki.

“E whakapakari ana mātou i te tiakanga mā te tautoko i te kaupapa, e 28 ā te kaupapa kaimahi nō te iwi o te rohe rā, e tuku nei rātou i te whakangungu whāomoomo, e eke ai te haumaru ki te tino paerewa, i roto nei te whakahaumaru koiora, te whāwhā i te kiwi me te aruaru mai ā-rangi.

“I whakatūria a Raukūmara Pae Maunga i te tau 2020, ā, e whakatipuria ana hoki tētahi reanga hou o ngā kaiārahi taketake ki te whāomoomo – neke atu i te 1000 ngā tamariki, rangatahi e tūhono mai ana ki te akoranga taiao, ā, 14 ngā kura e whai wāhi ana ki ngā hōtaka taiao.

“Mā te whakamahi i te hangarau auaha, pērā i te uiui pītau ā-ira i te apiapi o te tia, me te hangarau rapu ā-pōkākā ki te mahi whakamate tia, e whakarākeihia ai te rongo ā-ao o Aotearoa mō ngā rongoā pūtake-taiao.

“I tērā tau, nā te kaupapa i tuku te mahinga 1080 ā-rangi tino rahi i Te Ika-a-Māui, 116,000 heketea te rahi. Nā konei te ara puta waiwai mā te whakarauoratanga o ngā momo māori, i whakaaturia ai e te aroturuki i mua, i muri hoki i te horapa a te 1080, i whakaitihia taupuatia te kiore ki te iti tē kitea, ā, e 73% te patunga tuatahi i te paihamu.

“I te rā nei, ka whakapuakina te $2 miriona i ia tau, ā roto i ngā tau e toru tae atu ki te tau 2028. I tīkina mai taua pūtea.

“I te pūtea whāomoomo tāpiri e $55 miriona i whakamaheretia mō te tau 2026/27 i te International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy.”

Source: NZCTU

The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi is calling on political parties to adopt their new policy to lower energy bills and protect manufacturing by bringing the electricity gentailers back into public ownership.

The plan would involve government using the dividends from its shares in the gentailers to purchase the remaining shares until it reaches full public ownership.

“Aotearoa needs an electricity system that produces affordable renewable energy to support a thriving economy and lower household living costs,” said NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff.

“The partial privatisation of our electricity system has prevented growth in our generation capacity. A state of manufactured scarcity has delivered rising energy bills for households and businesses and huge dividends to gentailer shareholders.

“Many workers are making difficult decisions about what to sacrifice so that they can keep the heating on. We are also seeing worksites across the country closing due to rising energy bills.

“Treating the electricity market as a source of profit has led to us this point. We must instead treat the market as a public utility that serves the interests of working people,” said Wagstaff.

“We need to fundamentally change our approach to delivering electricity. Electricity supply and demand should be managed as an economic development and industrial policy problem – not a revenue maximising concern for shareholders,” said NZCTU Economist and Policy Director Craig Renney.

“The NZCTU proposes that government should use its dividends to progressively bring the gentailers back into full public ownership. It should also use its power as a major shareholder to direct the gentailers to support the wider economy and network resiliency. Bringing on new generation and delivering the green energy transition need to be priorities.

“If we don’t tackle this problem, New Zealand will continue to deindustrialise at pace, meaning the loss of good jobs and incomes for many workers. New Zealanders will also face ever rising electricity bills, deepening the cost-of-living crisis.

“The choice now rests with political parties. They need to deliver bold change to lift our economic performance and make energy more affordable. The alternative is to continue with a system that is driving deindustrialisation and energy poverty,” said Renney.

Source: New Zealand Police

Please attribute the following to Acting Detective Sergeant Richard How:

Prompt action by Palmerston North Police led to the arrest of a brazen daylight robber in the central city.

Police responded to a report of a chase and robbery occurring in Downtown Plaza around 1pm yesterday.

A person had been robbed of jewellery that they were wearing, under the threat of violence.

Officers used reports and CCTV to locate the suspected robber.

A man was arrested an hour later without incident.

The stolen jewellery was recovered, in a vehicle nearby, and returned to the victim.

A 29-year-old man is to appear in the Palmerston North District Court on 2 October on a charge of non aggravated robbery.

Acting Detective Sergeant Richard How says, “The victim in this matter was understandably shaken but was not injured. It is great to get such a quick arrest for them and members of the public”.

“Police want to remind people that their safety is our priority. Anyone that creates danger in the community will be held to account,” he says.

Remember, if you see any unlawful activity, call 111 if its happening now, and 105 if it’s after the fact.

ENDS

Source: New Zealand Police

The newly deployed Henderson Beat Team has hit the ground running in its first few weeks, with 17 arrests already under their belts.

Senior Sergeant Greg Wilson, Waitematā West Area Communities Manager, says since hitting the streets earlier this month, the team have made an immediate impact.

“While getting to know their new area and connecting with the people of Henderson, this team has sent a clear message,” he says.

“We will be holding anyone who engages in offending of any kind to account.”

Last week, in one example of sharp instincts and teamwork, a male wearing a backpack and acting suspiciously in a local car park caught the team’s attention.

“After a brief game of cat and mouse, during which this male attempted to make a getaway, he was swiftly arrested,” Senior Sergeant Wilson says.

“This man was wanted for multiple theft and dishonestly offences and was breaching his bail conditions.”

A search of his backpack uncovered a stash of tools commonly used to break and enter premises.

“Further enquiries revealed he had allegedly broken into a nearby security office, stealing several items, including a staff members mountain bike,” Senior Sergeant Wilson says.

A 41-year-old man appeared in the Waitakere District Court charged with burglary, obtains by deception, possess instruments for burglary, possess utensils and breaching bail. His bail was opposed.

During the weekend, the team made a further four arrests for shoplifting around the Henderson Town Centre.

“In two separate incidents four people were held to account after helping themselves to items from different stores,” he says.

“On both occasions officers were nearby and able to respond quickly.”

Senior Sergeant Wilson says he is pleased by how much of an impact the team has made.

“Their proactive approach and instincts are already paying off and making a big difference in the community.”

ENDS.

Amanda Wieneke/NZ Police

Source: New Zealand Government

Patients across Canterbury, Otago, Southland, Nelson Marlborough, and the West Coast are seeing faster access to care, the latest health results show, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. 

“Healthcare performance in the South Island is turning a corner. Our focus remains on putting patients first and making sure more people get access to timely, quality healthcare,” Mr Brown says. 

These quarterly results mark the first annual milestone toward our 2030 targets. Key improvements in the South Island from April to June include: 

Faster cancer treatment: 83.7% of cancer patients starting treatment within 31 days, with Nelson Marlborough up 4.9 percentage points, West Coast up 8, and Southern up 1.5 from the previous quarter.
Childhood immunisations: 87.4% of children fully immunised by age two, with West Coast up 4.6 percentage points and Southern up 1.6 from the previous quarter.
Shorter stays in emergency departments: 78.9% of patients admitted, transferred, or discharged from emergency departments within six hours, with Canterbury up 8 percentage points and West Coast up 17.7 from the same time last year, despite increased attendances. 

Waitlists for elective procedures and first specialist assessments (FSAs) are also improving. 

“In the last quarter alone, thousands more South Islanders received the care they needed – from hip and knee replacements to cardiology and cataract surgeries,” Mr Brown says. 

The latest figures show that in several districts, more patients are being seen within four months for FSAs and elective procedures compared to the previous quarter: 

“These improvements mean more patients getting back to work, returning to everyday activities, and regaining their quality of life. We thank our doctors, nurses, and other frontline staff whose daily commitment makes this improvement possible. 

“While progress is being made, too many people are still waiting too long. Our focus is on continuing to reduce waitlists, so more patients get the care they need. 

“Backed by a record $30 billion annual investment into health, our Government is rebuilding the system around patients, holding it accountable for performance, and driving better outcomes.” 

Source: New Zealand Government

Patients in Wellington, the Manawatū, Hawke’s Bay, and Wairarapa are benefiting from faster treatment and shorter waits, the latest health target results show, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. 

“Healthcare performance in the Central region is improving steadily. Our focus remains on putting patients first and making sure more people get access to timely, quality healthcare,” Mr Brown says. 

These quarterly results mark the first annual milestone toward our 2030 targets. Key improvements in the Central region from April to June include: 

Faster cancer treatment: 86% of cancer patients starting treatment within 31 days, with Wairarapa up 6.4 percentage points and Hutt Valley up 4.9 from the previous quarter.
Childhood immunisations: 83.9% of children fully immunised by age two, with Wairarapa up 1.8 percentage points and Hutt Valley up 7.5 from the previous quarter.
Shorter stays in emergency departments: 65.3% of patients admitted, transferred, or discharged from emergency departments within six hours, with Whanganui up 1.6 percentage points, Hawke’s Bay up 1.9, MidCentral up 3.2, Wairarapa up 16.2, Hutt Valley up 7.2, and Capital and Coast up 4.4 from the same time last year, despite increased attendances. 

Progress is also being made in reducing waitlists for elective procedures and first specialist assessments (FSAs). 

“In the last quarter alone, thousands more patients across the Central region received the care they needed – from hip and knee replacements to cardiology and cataract surgeries, Mr Brown says. 

The latest figures show that in several districts, more patients are being seen within four months for FSAs and elective procedures compared to the previous quarter: 

“These improvements mean people are getting back to work and everyday life faster. We thank our doctors, nurses, and other frontline staff whose daily commitment makes this improvement possible,” Mr Brown says. 

“While progress is being made, too many people are still waiting too long. Our focus is on continuing to reduce waitlists so more patients get the care they need. 

“Backed by a record $30 billion annual investment into health, our Government is rebuilding the system around patients, holding it accountable for performance, and driving better outcomes.” 

Source: New Zealand Police

Police are seeking the public’s help to identify the men pictured in these images.

We believe they may be able to assist us with our enquiries into a serious assault on Onehunga Mall Road, Onehunga on 7 July  at about 1am.

If this is you, or you know who these men are, please update us online now or call 105.

Please use the reference number 250714/2979.

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

ENDS.

Holly McKay/NZ Police