NZ Engine

Source: New Zealand Police

Searching will be wound down for the day around the Mahurangi River, as part of the ongoing effort to locate a man missing since Wednesday.

Today, around 30 personnel from various agencies have been involved in searching.

This includes Police Search and Rescue, Land Search and Rescue, a Police drone, and a Fire and Emergency water rescue team.

The Auckland Police Maritime Unit also deployed its jet ski to search on the water.

Sadly, the man and his vehicle remain unaccounted for.

Police will continue to monitor conditions over the coming days and deploy resource accordingly.

ENDS.

Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

Source: New Zealand Police

Police are in attendance at a sudden death at Cheltenham Beach on the North Shore.

At 3.14pm, a report was received of a man being pulled out of the water unresponsive.

Emergency services have attended the beach and provided the man with medical assistance.

Sadly, despite best efforts we can confirm the man has died on scene.

The immediate area has been cordoned off at this stage.

Police will make enquiries into the man’s death on behalf of the Coroner.

ENDS.

Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

Significant storm damage across the Coromandel Peninsula means several state highway closures and restrictions will remain in place heading into the long weekend, with some sections expected to take up to five days to clear.

Heavy rain has caused multiple slips, debris flows and pavement damage across the network. Crews have been clearing slips, removing fallen trees and assessing damage wherever it is safe to do so.

Andy Oakley, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) System Manager for Waikato, says the focus over the last few days has been assessing the damage and restoring access to roads that have been heavily impacted.

“The images of these slips speak for themselves, and some sections of state highway will remain closed through the long weekend.

“While some areas have been reopened relatively quickly, several significant slips are still moving and will take days to fully clear. Work can only continue when it is safe for crews to be onsite.

“SH2 through the Karangahake Gorge is now open with speed restrictions and our next immediate focus is on regaining safe access in and out of Whangamata via SH25 to Hikuai. This section is currently being monitored and is scheduled to open from 7pm tonight under lane and speed restrictions.”

Mr Oakley says teams are also managing dozens of smaller slips and two major unstable areas on SH25 at Kūaotunu and between Whiritoa and Whangamata.

“These two slips are large and unstable. Safety for road users and our crews is our priority, which means work will pause at times until assessments confirm the slopes have settled.

“As we head into the long weekend, we strongly encourage people to follow the advice of Civil Defence and local councils, only travel if necessary and check NZTA’s Journey Planner before they get on the roads,” says Mr Oakley.

If you must travel, slow down, drive to the conditions and allow extra time.

Current network status:

The following sections of State Highway are still CLOSED: 
SH 25 Kūaotunu to Kūaotunu West/Matarangi
SH 25 Whangamatā to Whiritoa 

OPEN with caution (traffic management in place)
SH25 Coromandel town to Matarangi /Kūaotunu West
SH 2 Paeroa to Waihi (Karangahake Gorge)

CLOSED but scheduled to OPEN from 7pm tonight: 
SH25 Hikuai to Whangamata  

While the highway is closed to through traffic, sections of SH25 between Kuaotunu and Tairua are available for emergency travel, with a single lane open and traffic management at numerous minor slips. 

Up to date road information is available at www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

Crews on the East Coast are continuing to assess damage caused to State Highway 35 by multiple slips, landslides and flooding.

SH35 is open between Gisborne and Tikitiki, but remains closed from Tikitiki to Pōtaka.

Floodwaters are starting to recede near Pōtaka. However, the damage between Pōtaka and Te Araroa, in particular, is considerable and is taking time to assess.

Contractors & Geotech experts anticipate being able to make further assessments of the area during the day.

At this stage, it has been estimated that up to half a million cubic metres of material will need to be removed from multiple sites throughout SH35.

In addition to the slips, Taurangakoau Bridge over Mangaowira Stream has been partially washed away and work is underway to secure contractor access across the bridge.

Our crews are working as quickly and as safely as possible to clear more access to parts of SH35.

Please continue to drive to the conditions and with extreme care. There is a lot of traffic management in place throughout the sections of SH35 that are open, so it’s imperative people adhere to traffic management and lower speeds, as crews remain on the road working where they can over the weekend.

A strong wind watch is in place tomorrow (Saturday) from midday north of Tolaga Bay.

Further south SH2 is open from Gisborne to Matawai. Waioweka Gorge remains closed.

SH2 from Gisborne to Wairoa and further south to Napier is open.

Source: New Zealand Police

Attribute to Detective Sergeant John Kean:

Police are asking for the public’s help finding Kevin John Singh Belling, who was reported missing from the Invercargill area.

The 62-year-old was reported missing on Sunday 18 January, however he was last seen and spoken to on Friday 9 January at his place of business in Motu Rimu.

Police have conducted a series of enquiries but have unfortunately been unable to locate him, and are now seeking help from the public.

It is believed that Kevin could still be in the Invercargill area.

Police and Kevin’s family have serious concerns for his welfare and would like to find him as soon as possible.

If you have seen Kevin, or have any information that could help us find him, please call 111 and reference file number: 260118/6964.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: NZ Department of Conservation

Date:  23 January 2026

There are concerns sections the track may not be safe after more than 200 mm of rain lashed the region this week.

“The track has been assessed by staff, and there are visible signs of slumping caused by the saturation of the hillside the track traverses,” DOC Coromandel Operations Manager Nick Kelly says.

“There are also parts of the track covered in deep mud and debris which will need to be cleared so further assessments can be undertaken – including geotechnical inspections.”

Geological assessments undertaken previously at Mautohe Cathedral Cove have also shown there is a residual risk of landslides and rockfalls as the soil above and around the cove dries out after rain events.

DOC has a vital responsibility to manage visitor risk at the site, and Nick says right now the focus is on gaining a full understanding of that risk following the storm and intense rain.

Nick says the message is clear – do not use the Mautohe Cathedral Cove track until further notice.

“This is not the time to go naturing at Mautohe Cathedral Cove – do not put yourself at risk,” Nick says.

Representatives from Ngāti Hei will be at track entrance points urging people to not use the track.

The cove can still be accessed from the sea but anyone planning to do this should think carefully about the risks – including the possibility of rockfall and further landslides – and whether visiting is sensible at this time.

The storm this week has also impacted track reinstatement works at nearby Waimata Gemstone Bay. Contractors have been withdrawn from the site and a section of track they had been working on is damaged.

A section of the coastal track network between Hahei and the Mautohe Cathedral Cove track start, which was permanently closed, has also subsided – reinforcing the decision to close this part of the track network.

Nick says the Coromandel Peninsula is in clean-up mode and visitors are now being actively discouraged from visiting the peninsula while the recovery continues. Coromandel’s roading network is compromised in several places.

Tracks to Mautohe Cathedral Cove were closed in February 2023 due to extensive damage caused by Cyclone Garbrielle. DOC repaired the tracks through the second half of 2024, and they reopened to visitors in December 2024.

Contact

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology

26 seconds ago

For 19-year-old Emma Davis, seeing her designs come to life on the runway was the highlight of her NZ Diploma in Fashion (Level 5) at EIT.

Emma completed the diploma last year at EIT’s Hawke’s Bay campus, showcasing three garments as part of the end-of-year fashion show, including two looks from her final collection and one sustainable design created earlier in the year using upcycled materials.

“It felt really emotional,” Emma says. “We designed everything from the beginning to the end, and there was a lot of time and effort put into it. There were a lot of late nights and a lot of emotion involved, so finally seeing everything on the runway was really special.”

Her final collection drew inspiration from Greek mythology, specifically the character of Circe from The Odyssey.

“I usually work with lighter colours and more flowy designs, so I wanted to challenge myself. One outfit was inspired by Circe herself as a witch, which was more feminine, and the other was inspired by the soldiers who were turned into pigs, so it was darker and heavier than what I normally do.”

Her interest in fashion began at a young age, sparked by time spent sewing with her grandmother after moving back to New Zealand from England.

“She taught me how to sew, and I just loved it. I used to make little outfits for my Barbie dolls. Once you learn how to sew, you stop looking at clothes the same way. You see something in a shop and immediately think about what you could turn it into.”

After finishing at Havelock North High School, Emma chose to study fashion at EIT, drawn by the opportunity to focus on hands-on, creative learning close to home.

“EIT was right there, and I wasn’t quite ready to move away or financially able to yet. My fabrics teacher at high school had studied at EIT and recommended it, so I thought I’d give it a go and see if fashion was really for me. I’m really glad I did.”

Throughout the year, Emma says the programme allowed her to immerse herself fully in fashion, building practical skills across sewing, pattern making, and garment construction.

“Every single day we were learning something new. It meant I could really focus on developing my skills rather than juggling lots of different subjects.”

She says working directly with patterns and mannequins helped her gain confidence and develop a more instinctive approach to design.

“Before EIT, I struggled with knowing how to do things without overthinking them. Now, a lot of it feels more natural. I’ve learned how to just do things without having to stop and think so much. I’m really grateful for everything I learned and how much I grew over the year.”

Sustainability was a strong focus throughout the diploma, and an area Emma is particularly passionate about.

“We learned a lot about being mindful with resources and thinking about environmental impact. Sustainable fashion isn’t just about labels. It can involve upcycling, textiles, or working in different areas of the industry that support more responsible practices.”

Emma plans on continuing further study at Massey University, with aspirations to work in the sustainable fashion sector.

“There are so many different pathways within fashion. Design is the dream, but there are also opportunities in textiles, marketing, and other related areas. I’d love whatever I do to be connected to sustainability.”

Reflecting on her time at EIT, Emma says the commitment required was significant, but the experience has given her a strong foundation moving forward.

Christina Rhodes, Lecturer Fashion CALT, said the NZ Diploma in Fashion introduces the fashion industry and explores the diverse roles students can pursue to advance their careers.

“Throughout the programme, we encourage a strong focus on practical sustainability, emphasising recycling, repurposing, and reusing materials.

“Emma demonstrated creativity in developing the concept for her collection, incorporating sustainability into her garment design. We wish her every success as she continues her journey in the fashion industry.”