NZ Engine

Source: Radio New Zealand

Remains of victims have been found at a campground in Mount Maunganui overnight.

Police, Fire and Emergency, and Civil Defence have held a media stand-up this afternoon.

Six people have been unaccounted for since Thursday.

Emergency services are moving to a recovery phase, from a rescue operation.

The remains are now in custody of the coroner.

They will be transported to a mortuary in Hamilton.

The names of those found will be released to media this afternoon.

Follow the RNZ liveblog at the top of the page for the latest updates.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

A former army major is calling comments made by US President Donald Trump ill-informed and sensationalist.

Trump has angered allies, claiming NATO troops “stayed a little back” from frontlines in Afghanistan.

The comments have drawn ire from the likes of UK Prime Minister Kier Starmer, who labelled the remarks “insulting and frankly appalling”, urging the president to apologise, according to CNN.

Roughly a third of those Allied personnel killed during the war came from non-US forces, including 10 New Zealanders.

The UK joined the US in Afghanistan from 2001, after it invoked NATO’s collective defence clause following the 9/11 terror attacks.

More than 450 British soldiers were killed.

Former army major Simon Strombom is the managing director of the NZ Remembrance Army and served in Afghanistan.

He also received a Distinguished Service Decoration.

Strombom told RNZ that he commanded troops from NATO nations and found them exceptionally professional.

“I was heavily exposed to the professionalism and the challenges that the NATO, particularly British and the Canadian, troops had,” he said.

The comments were ill-conceived, Strombom said.

“What do you say, sensationalist comments to try and take a position that really is really ill-informed.”

Strombom said it would be hard for those who had lost loved ones in the conflict to hear those comments from a US president.

“I would be pretty upset if I had lost friends or a relative in those operations, particularly down in Kandahar,” he said.

“It’d be pretty hard for a family to have suffered such a loss and then to hear comments like that, just basically undermining the actual sacrifice of the families, it’s pretty poor form.”

Strombom said he had particular respect for British troops.

“I’ve always had a hell of a lot of respect for the discipline of British troops, and the professionalism of them, even down to their territorial army,” he said.

Trump hadn’t really understood the situation, Strombom said.

“The majority of the weight of the coalition headquarters, there were 48 countries in the headquarters we were in, America made up probably a quarter of those troops, but the rest of them were predominantly from NATO.”

Strombom doubted Trump would apologise for his comments.

‘Great pride’ in those deployed to conflict

Defence Minister Judith Collins said the country took great pride in the professionalism, courage, and commitment of all who served in Afghanistan.

“We responded to the call for assistance alongside our partners, and our people served willingly and with professionalism in challenging and often dangerous conditions,” she said.

“We continue to honour the memory of New Zealand Defence Force personnel who lost their lives in Afghanistan, and we acknowledge the enduring loss felt by their families, friends, and colleagues.”

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Human remains have been found at a campground in Mount Maunganui overnight.

Police, Fire and Emergency, and Civil Defence have held a media stand-up this afternoon.

Six people have been unaccounted for since Thursday.

Emergency services are moving to a recovery phase, from a rescue operation.

The remains are now in custody of the coroner.

They will be transported to a mortuary in Hamilton.

The names of those found will be released to media this afternoon.

Follow the RNZ liveblog at the top of the page for the latest updates.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

The 15-year-old believed to be missing in the slip has been named as an Italian girl from Auckland.

Italian media are reporting her to be Sharon Maccanico, originally from a small town called Picarelli in the municipality of Avellino.

RNZ understands her parents are at the scene.

Meanwhile, her Italian relatives have posted on Facebook asking their local community to pray at a church service with them in hope of a miracle.

Avellino Today reports that she is from a small town in Southern Italy called Picarelli.

The community gathered in the town’s local church as they waited for news of Sharon, with family nervously awaiting news from New Zealand, it reported.

She is widely known in the small community, it said.

Meanwhile, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs has confirmed that one Swedish citizen is unaccounted for in New Zealand.

It says it cannot comment further on this individual case due to consular confidentiality.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

A search is continuing for a missing man who was swept downstream after falling from a boat in the Bay of Plenty town of Ōpōtiki.

Police were called to the Waioeka River at about 5.30pm on Friday after reports of the incident.

Emergency services carried out a search of the area and found the vessel nearby.

Inspector Nicky Cooney, Eastern Bay of Plenty Area Commander, said police resumed the search Saturday morning in the Waioeka River near the junction with Waiata Stream.

Police said they were continuing to support the man’s family.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Police have launched a homicide investigation following the death of a woman in the Clutha settlement of Crichton, while another person remains in a critical condition.

Emergency services were called to a property on Adams Flat Road at about 6.10pm on Friday, after reports of a “serious incident”.

Detective Sergeant Hayden Smale said a woman died at the scene, while a man was taken to hospital in a critical condition.

A scene guard remains in place at the address as police conduct a scene examination.

Police said there is not believed to be any risk to the public, but residents can expect an increased police presence in the Crichton area.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Tauranga City Council has announced an independent review into the events leading up to Thursday’s landslide at the base of Mauao, as local iwi Ngāi Te Rangi say they are seeking a thorough investigation into the cause of the slip.

Mayor Mahé Drysdale and council chief executive Marty Grenfell confirmed the review on Friday, describing the landslide as an incident of “local, national and international importance”.

“The landslide and its impacts on those affected and their families clearly represents a serious and significant incident,” Drysdale said.

“It is important that we have a clear and accurate understanding of the facts and events leading up to the landslide, so that we can ensure that the future safety of the community is appropriately safeguarded.”

The slip came down at about 9.30am on Thursday at the Beachside Holiday Park in Mount Maunganui, smashing into campervans, tents, vehicles and an ablution block near the Mount Hot Pools.

Police said six people, including two teenagers, remain missing, while they are seeking information on the whereabouts of three others believed to be overseas tourists.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) and police continue to treat the operation as a rescue, with specialist Urban Search and Rescue teams working in what authorities have described as an unstable and high-risk environment.

Drysdale said the scope of the independent review, who would lead it, and the timeframe for delivering findings were still being worked through.

“Given the gravity of this tragic situation, it’s important that a person with the requisite skills, experience, and level of public trust is selected,” he said.

Key aspects of the review would include establishing and reviewing all relevant facts in the lead-up to the landslide, he said, but it would not replace any other formal processes that may be initiated.

“This review is about establishing the facts independently, given the scale and seriousness of this event,” Drysdale said.

“As council, on behalf of the families and the whole community, we need to understand the facts and ensure that in the lead-up to this tragedy, everything was done that was appropriate in the circumstances.”

He said the council’s immediate focus remained on supporting affected families and those involved in the rescue operation.

Ngāi Te Rangi deputy chief executive Roimata Ah Sam said the iwi was heartbroken by the tragedy and had sent prayers and thoughts to those still missing.

“We hope everybody will be found alive and well.”

Ah Sam acknowledged the work of emergency services and said the iwi was deliberately staying clear of the site to allow responders to do their jobs.

“Everybody should be immensely proud of the fire service, police and the Civil Defence,” she said.

However, she said Ngāi Te Rangi expected a full investigation into the cause of the landslide.

“There has been a lot of work done on Mauao,” Ah Sam said.

“So, we look forward to a thorough investigation into why this occurred. And we look forward to working alongside authorities to rebuild our maunga.”

Police District Commander Assistant Commissioner Tim Anderson has said the number of people unaccounted for remains in single figures, and that police would reassess “day by day” when the operation may shift from rescue to recovery.

Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell said the risk of further slips was a “massive consideration”, noting geoscientists were on site and nearby facilities had been evacuated as a precaution.

A wide cordon remains in place around the mountain, which is closed to the public, and a rāhui has been imposed. Authorities have repeatedly urged the public to stay away from the area to allow rescue teams to work safely.

The council review is expected to examine warnings, land stability, and any actions taken before the landslide.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand