Source: Radio New Zealand
With more than 15,000km of coastline, it’s no surprise that surfing is a hugely popular pastime in Aotearoa.
One place where people come from all around the world to learn is at Auckland’s Muriwai Surf School located at the famous West Coast beach.
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
Source: New Zealand Police
Attribute to Sergeant Jonny Evans, Police Search and Rescue.
A search is continuing for a tramper overdue in the Baton area of Kahurangi National Park.
Graham Garnett, 66, went tramping in the Baton/Ellis River area. He was expected to return on 30 December, but did not.
We will be using a radar tomorrow so ask members of the public to steer clear of our search areas.
Tomorrow the following areas in the Baton Valley will be closed while Police Search and Rescue teams search for Graham.
The search will involve the use of Recco detecting equipment.
Graham is around 177cm tall, approximately 100kg, and has grey hair.
We are keen to hear from anyone who we haven’t spoken with yet, who was in the Baton/Ellis River area from the afternoon of 26 December, particularly anyone who was around Flanagan’s Hut.
Any sightings or information can be reported at 105.police.govt.nz, clicking “Update report”, or by calling 105. Please use the reference number P064981672.
Source: Radio New Zealand
The woman had arrived at Auckland International Airport from Singapore. (File photo) RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
A woman has been charged with bringing more than 20 kilograms of meth into the country in her checked luggage.
The 33-year-old was arrested at Auckland International airport on Sunday.
Court documents claim she arrived on a flight from Singapore with roughly 22 kilograms of methamphetamine.
She had been charged with importing a class A controlled drug.
The maximum sentence was life imprisonment.
Court documents show the woman was both unemployed and had no fixed abode.
She was expected to appear in Manukau District Court on Monday afternoon.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
Source: Radio New Zealand
RNZ / REECE BAKER
Cordons have been removed from a Christchurch property where an item of concern was found this morning.
Police were called to St Barnabas Street in Fendalton at about 9.15am on Monday.
The Defence Force explosive bomb disposal team recovered the item, and it will be disposed of.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
Source: New Zealand Police
Police have closed East Coast Road between Wilks Road and Bawden Road near Stillwater after a single-vehicle crash.
The incident was reported to emergency services just after 3pm.
One person sustained serious injuries and is being treated by ambulance services.
Motorists should be advised the road will be closed for over an hour, with detours in place.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: Radio New Zealand
Supplied / NZ Police
Police investigating a mass disorder incident that occurred on Karangahape Road in Auckland just after Christmas are appealing for the public’s assistance in identifying the people pictured in several CCTV images.
At about 3.40am on 28 December, emergency services were called to the disorder involving about 50 people.
Auckland City Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Greaves said the police investigation remains ongoing into three serious assaults on and around Karangahape Road during the incident.
“One person has been arrested, however we would like help identifying the others pictured in these images.
“I’m asking anyone who knows who they are to please get in touch.”
Police are seeking to identify several individuals after a disorder involving about 50 people on Auckland’s Karangahape Road on 28 December. Supplied / NZ Police
One male is wearing black pants, a blue and black hunting and fishing jacket and a black cap with white writing.
The second male is wearing a white shirt with a beige hat.
Supplied / NZ Police
“Someone knows who these people are and we are urging them to speak to us,” Greaves said.
Anyone who recognises these men or who has information about the incident is asked to contact police.
People can report information online or call 105 and quote file number 251228/4774. Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
Source: Radio New Zealand
Move over, chocolate Santas and candy canes, Easter treats are on the way.
It may be just a couple of weeks since Christmas – and 12 weeks until Easter – but hot cross buns are already on sale at some New Zealand supermarkets.
“Each year our customers tell us it’s never too early for hot cross buns, and the numbers back that up,” says Woolworths’ merchandise manager for bakery Michael Whorskey.
If that sounds a bit premature, consider this: some supermarkets in Aotearoa sell ‘uncrossed’ fruit buns year-round. In Australia, hot cross buns have been on sale since Boxing Day.
Whorskey says Woolworths’ decision to put the buns on sale from 5 January is influenced by consistent customer demand for the traditional Easter treat.
“We sold more than 1.7 million in-store baked units last season, with traditional dried fruit still reigning supreme, so we’re responding to what customers clearly want rather than the calendar.”
The chain will be selling a dozen different varieties of hot cross buns – from fruitless to a cream cheese-filled cinnabon style – with five cents from every packet sold going to children’s charity KidsCan.
A Foodstuffs South Island spokesperson says that while the spicy scent of hot cross buns has been wafting through the bakeries of some stores already, supply and demand will start to heat up more in February.
“While Easter is definitely the most popular time, some customers don’t like to let a celebration or date on the calendar stand between them and their favourite hot cross bun, so some of our stores make smaller quantities year-round,” the spokesperson says.
Wellington’s Nada Bakery took top prize at the 2025 Baking NZ Great Hot Cross Bun Competition. Owner and baker Michael Gray says customers have been asking about hot cross buns since December, but he’s holding out on producing them until February.
“People always want something different and to move on to the next thing, they don’t want to wait.
“We wanted to clear Christmas and get a bit of breathing space for our team and to the public before we started hot cross buns.”
Gray says hot cross buns represent an important chunk of income for bakeries, so he can understand why some of his competitors, including supermarkets, might want to get in early.
Baking NZ president Bernie Sugrue says he thinks three months ahead of Easter is a respectable time to start making hot cross buns.
“It’s a bit like florists and Valentine’s Day. Bakeries don’t have Black Friday or Boxing Day sales, so they want to get in there with hot cross buns.”
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
Source: Radio New Zealand
The woman had arrived at Auckland International Airport from Singapore. (File photo) RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
A woman has been charged with allegedly bringing more than 20 kilograms of meth into the country in her checked luggage.
The 33-year-old was arrested at Auckland International airport on Sunday.
Court documents claimed she arrived on a flight from Singapore with roughly 22 kilograms of methamphetamine.
She had been charged with importing a class A controlled drug.
The maximum sentence was life imprisonment.
Court documents show the woman was both unemployed and had no fixed abode.
She was expected to appear in Manukau District Court on Monday afternoon.
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
Data from the Neighbourly website has been stolen. Screenshot
The Stuff-owned website Neighbourly – at the centre of a major cyber breach – has headed to court to try to stop the stolen information spreading.
The High Court at Auckland has confirmed it has received and accepted an application for an injunction.
The site was taken down for a time on New Year’s Day after the breach was found.
Information including names, email addresses, posts and messages has purportedly surfaced for sale on the dark web.
Cyber security experts say it is particularly concerning that GPS data from Neighbourly has also been taken. One said it could put lives at risk.
A court date has not yet been set.
It comes at the same time that the ManageMyHealth website was struck by a hacker attack that includes patient information.
The hackers, calling themselves “Kazu”, posted on Sunday morning that unless the company paid a ransom within 48 hours, they would leak more than 400,000 files in their possession.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
Source: New Zealand Police
Attributable to Sergeant Dougall Henderson – Invercargill Police Search and Rescue Coordinator
The rescue of two boaties in a remote area of Fiordland over the weekend has highlighted the importance of being prepared when heading out on the water.
The two men were on a fishing and diving trip just south of Milford Sound when the batteries in their 6.4 metre recreational boat failed on Saturday night and left them stranded.
The pair were able to use their iPhone satellite emergency text system to message for help. Their messages were received by the iPhone Emergency Comms Centre in the Netherlands who relayed their plight to NZ Police.
Marine VHF radio broadcasts were put out by Maritime NZ on an hourly basis for any vessels in the area able to assist with no response.
The following morning, Police and family members were arranging a float plane to fly replacement batteries to the men, when a recreational boatie heard the call for help on his VHF radio.
He and his three passengers, who were on a day’s fishing trip went to the pair’s rescue and were able to take the stricken vessel under tow back to Milford Sound, which was approximately 50 kilometres away.
Although the boys were well prepared with lifejackets, two forms of communication and had not consumed alcohol, the incident highlights how difficult assistance can be if you have a mechanical failure or emergency situation.
It is a timely reminder of the golden rules of boating particularly in isolated areas like Fiordland.
Finally, Police would like to thank the skipper and his crew who gave up their fishing day to help a fellow boatie in need.