NZ Engine

Source: Corporate PR for Skills Group

A cutting-edge trades teaching and training facility which has officially opened at Highbrook is set to unlock educational opportunities across Auckland and fuel growth in the trades industry.

The opening was marked with a symbolic wire-cutting ceremony — a nod to the electrical trade — led by 24-year-old student Georgia Rensen who recently qualified as an electrician. Georgia’s role in the ceremony highlighted the growing presence and importance of women in trades.

The event was also attended by the Hon. Erica Stanford, Minister of Education and Minister of Immigration, who officially opened the new 3,300-square-metre, two-storey campus – a major milestone for Skills Group, New Zealand’s largest private training establishment.

Previously a logistics warehouse, the building has undergone a $4.5 million transformation into a modern learning hub, now dedicated to training students in the electrical trades.

Skills Group Director Trades School, Di Lithgow, says the new campus reflects the organisation’s commitment to delivering contemporary and effective training environments.

“This facility represents a significant boost in our capacity to support the growing demand for skilled tradespeople across Auckland,” she says.

“It’s designed to meet the needs of both students and the wider industry through innovative, hands-on learning.”

The Highbrook facility follows recent expansions by Skills Group in Christchurch and Dunedin, bringing world-class training environments to key regions across the country.

Designed using feedback from tutors and drawing on international best practice, the new campus features state-of-the-art workshop classrooms for pre-trade students.

These spaces combine theory and practice in one cohesive environment.

“Students don’t have to leave the classroom to apply what they’ve learned,” Di says.

“They can immediately work on training boards within the same space, creating a seamless learning experience.”

Workshops are equipped with custom-designed U-shaped benches that allow students to sit or stand while learning about appliances, soldering, and other practical components. This layout also enables tutors to maintain full visibility and engagement with the entire class from a central position.

“We are incredibly proud to offer this world-class facility in Auckland – one that supports not only our apprentices but also their employers and the broader industry,” Di says.

The new campus is located at 18 Business Parade North, Highbrook.

Source: NZ Music Month takes to the streets

A new floodway infrastructure upgrade that provides flood protection and resilience for Edgecumbe was opened today by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson.
“The completion of this multi-stage project is an impressive milestone that has been undertaken over 12 years and is one of the largest flood resilience projects completed in New Zealand in recent times. It will bring much needed flood protection for communities and will enable economic development opportunities in the Eastern Bay of Plenty,” Mr Patterson says.
“We only need to think back to the 2017 Edgecumbe floods to realise how critically important this project is to the region. The floods saw water pouring through this area after the Rangitāiki River burst its banks causing millions of dollars in damage, displacing many people, and disrupting the lives of many families for a considerable amount of time.”
The Rangitāiki Floodway upgrade was a six-stage project designed to take pressure off the flood prone Rangitāiki River stopbanks by diverting some of its flow during significant weather events. The final stage included increasing the capacity of the floodway and the construction of an additional spillway to manage the water flows entering the floodway from the Rangitāiki River above Edgecumbe.
Back in August 2024, this government committed $200m of the Regional Infrastructure Fund to flood resilience across New Zealand. 
The $50m floodway has been co-funded, with $14m government funding, and the balance of the project funded by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council and local community.
Upgrading the spillway and installing new floodgates allows the Bay of Plenty Regional Council to safely manage and control the release of flood waters,” says Mr Patterson.
“Projects like the Rangitāiki Floodway upgrade represent core, resilient infrastructure, crucial to the economic, social, cultural, and environmental wellbeing of our country. They help to protect lives and reduce the toll these events can have on communities, businesses, and infrastructure,” says Mr Patterson.
“This project has been a testament to the partnership between central and local government, Rangitāiki River communities, and local Iwi and industry to support community resilience and economic growth in the Eastern Bay. I look forward to seeing this newly protected land being utilised for future growth opportunities that benefit the local economy,” Mr Patterson says.

Source: NZ Music Month takes to the streets

The Government is turning up the heat on boy racers and fleeing drivers with a suite of stronger measures to deter anti-social and intimidating driving, Transport Minister Chris Bishop and Police Minister Mark Mitchell say.   

“At present, the penalties for anti-social or intimidating driving behaviour aren’t strong enough to deter this appalling behaviour. Police reporting shows that some types of anti-social road events are actually increasing in frequency. We’re saying enough is enough,” Mr Bishop says.

“Kiwis are sick of seeing these idiot drivers putting everyone around them at risk, so we’re taking action through a range of much tougher penalties. 

The new offences and penalties will include:

• Establishing a presumptive sentence of vehicle destruction or forfeiture for those that flee Police, street racers, intimidating convoys and owners who fail to identify offending drivers
• Giving Police more powers to manage illegal vehicle gatherings by closing roads or public areas and issuing infringements  
• Increasing the infringement fee for making excessive noise from or within a vehicle from $50 to $300

“These changes, to be introduced in new legislation in mid-2025, will mean convicted fleeing drivers, boy racers, and people participating in intimidating convoys have their vehicle destroyed or forfeited,” Mr Bishop says.         

“The legislation will establish a presumptive court-ordered sentence of vehicle forfeiture or destruction. This means that, if someone is convicted of these offences, courts must order that vehicle be destroyed or forfeited to the Crown to be sold.

“There will be some limited exceptions where the vehicle is owned by someone other than the offender, or if it would be manifestly unjust or cause extreme or undue hardship to do so.”    

Minister Mitchell says the bill will give Police new powers to manage intimidating convoys and illegal dirt bike gatherings, through the ability to close roads and compelling people to leave or face fines. 

The bill will also introduce stronger fines for intentionally creating excessive noise from within or on a vehicle. This will take the Police-issued fine from $50 to $300, and the court ordered fine from $1000 to $3000.  

“People have had enough of boy racers and their dangerous, obnoxious behaviour. These people drive without regard for the danger and disruption it causes to our communities. They have no consideration for anyone other than themselves.” Minister Mitchell says.    

“Anti-social road use and illegal street racing have no place in New Zealand. Our message is clear: if you want drive dangerously, face the consequences”.  

Notes to editors: 

• Anti-social road users are those who fail to stop for Police while speeding or driving dangerously, participate in unauthorised street racing, do burnouts, carry out intimidating convoys and unlawful dirt bike gatherings, or cause excessive noise by taking part in siren battles.
• The Government will expand the existing offence for a vehicle owner not immediately providing information about a driver who used that vehicle to flee Police to now:
• apply to those participating in street racing, loss of traction (burnouts), and intimidating convoys, 
• ensure courts order the vehicle destroyed or forfeited unless it would be manifestly unjust, or cause extreme hardship to the offender or undue hardship to any other person, and
• allow courts to issue a fine not exceeding $10,000 
• Additional powers for Police to manage illegal vehicle gatherings are to: 
• expand the existing road closure power to include all public and private areas accessible to the public by vehicle (e.g. parks and car parks),  
• establish an offence for a person who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with a direction to leave or not enter a closed area, and  establish an associated penalty of a $1,000 infringement fee and a maximum $3,000 court fine. 

Source: New Zealand Police

Emergency services are in attendance following a serious crash in Oxford Street, Levin.

Two vehicles have crashed just before 7:20am.

At this stage it appears one person has suffered critical injuries and another person is in a moderate condition. 

The road is currently closed and diversions are in place.

The Serious Crash Unit is attendance.

A further update will be provided later this morning.

ENDS    

Issued by the Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Police

State Highway 1 near Moerewa is blocked by a crash, between Main Road and Hautapu Road.

The crash, involving a truck and a car, was reported to Police at 8pm.

One person is reported to have serious injuries, one person has moderate injuries, and one person has minor injuries. 

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre. 

Source: New Zealand Police

One person has died following an ATV crash at a private property on French Pass Road, Karapiro this afternoon.

The crash was reported to Police at 2.30pm.

In addition to the fatality, one person sustained critical injuries, one has serious injuries and one has moderate injuries. 

Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are under way.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre. 
 

Source: New Zealand Police

Attribute to Tairāwhiti Area Commander Inspector Danny Kirk:

The Gisborne community will notice additional Police on patrol ahead of a tangi for a patched gang member on Monday morning.

A large number of gang members and associates are expected to be in town for the tangi, and Police will have additional resources on hand to provide staff the support they need for a gathering of this size. Extra staff from neighbouring Police districts will be in Tairāwhiti, ensuring we can respond to any scenario that threatens public safety. The Police helicopter, Eagle, will also provide aerial support through Monday.

We are mindful of providing a space for whānau and friends to grieve peacefully while balancing the safety of the community.

Police have been in contact with local gang leaders to outline our expectations, including around the wearing or displaying of gang insignia in a public place, which Police will act upon. We have also been in communication with whānau of the deceased.

Our focus is on the safety of everyone. We will not tolerate behaviour that aims to threaten or intimidate, and officers will be working to reduce disruption to the public.

Police will have extra patrols around Gisborne and the wider area, including on the roads. Even if we can’t take enforcement action on the day, staff will follow up on reports of illegal activity.

At the heart of this is the safety of our community and I urge anyone who has immediate concerns for their safety to please call Police on 111.

If you are reporting matters after the fact, please make a report online or call 105, referencing file number 250511/1622.

ENDS

Issued by the Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Police

A teenager has died after a serious incident in Napier overnight.

Police were called to a disorder event on Alexander Avenue in Onekawa, about 3.10am today, said Detective Inspector Martin James, District Manager Criminal Investigations.

“On arrival, a teenage boy was found critically injured at an Alexander Avenue address. Despite all efforts by ambulance staff, he died at the scene.

“At the same time, a second injured teenager was located at a Cottrell Crescent address. He was transported to hospital in a serious condition but has since been discharged.

“Enquiries are in the very early stages and Police are providing support to the whānau of both victims.”

Detective Inspector James said a disorder event involving a group of people on Dinwiddie Avenue may be linked to the incident.

A scene examination is ongoing, and cordons remain in place at the intersections of Hitchings Avenue and Alexander Avenue, Dinwiddie Avenue and Wallis Place, and Alexander Avenue, near Dinwiddie Avenue.

“Police will have a noticeable presence in the area while that work continues.

“We are speaking with a number of people as part of the investigation, but we urgently want to hear from anyone who was in the area, or anyone who took photos or video of the altercation on Dinwiddie Avenue.

“A number of investigators are working to determine what occurred and why, and we urge anyone who can assist our enquiries to contact us as soon as possible.”

Anyone with information is asked to make a report online, or by calling 105. Please quote the reference number 250511/1317.

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

ENDS

Issued by the Police Media Centre