NZ Engine

Source: New Zealand Police

Attribute to Detective Senior Sergeant Kylee Cusin:

Police searching for 61-year-old Anita Hart, who was reported missing from the Upper Hutt area on 13 November, have sadly located her deceased.

Police, along with multiple Search and Rescue teams, have been extensively searching the area working to locate her, and while this is not the outcome we hoped for, we hope it will help provide some closure for her family and loved ones.

Police would like to thank the public and everyone who helped in the search.

The death has been referred to the Coroner.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: Maritime New Zealand

Maritime NZ’s Pacific Maritime Safety Programme (PMSP) supported the maritime administration of the Cook Islands last month as it participated in its five-yearly International Maritime Organization Member State Audit Scheme (IMSAS) assessment.

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) apologises for significant delays experienced on State Highway 30A (SH30A) in Rotorua on Monday 17 November.

Traffic was heavily congested due to a combination of high traffic volumes and traffic management requirements for a road rebuild.

“We have now made the decision to postpone the SH30A work until 2026,” says Sandra King, NZTA System Manager Bay of Plenty.

“While the full closure meant this work would be completed much faster (within 15 days – day and night works), we need time to reconsider our construction and traffic management approach.

“This, along with the wet long-range weather forecast for the remainder of November, means there isn’t enough time to complete the work ahead the Christmas shutdown period.  

“Once a confirmed start date is available, NZTA will share details with the Rotorua community,” says Ms King.

SH30A is a complex urban site where the pavement has been patched for many years. It requires a full asphalt rebuild.

“A full road closure was originally chosen as the quickest and safest way to complete this rebuilding work, given the large volumes of machinery and equipment required.”

Following Monday’s disruption, all work was stopped before the afternoon peak, and as at 6am on Tuesday morning, all four lanes of SH30A were open under traffic management.  

Crews will return to site tomorrow night, Thursday 20 November, between 8pm and 5am (with Sunday night as a backup) to restore the road surface to its original level. This work will have minimal impact on traffic.

“This repair work remains a priority for next year to ensure we don’t have pavement failures next winter. In the meantime we are looking at how we can do the work differently to allow traffic to keep moving through the site while the work is completed, rather than a full closure.

“Using a different construction methodology will mean the overall timeframe will take longer but will minimise overall delays to people’s daily travel,” says Ms King.

NZTA thanks motorists in advance for their patience ahead of these nightworks.

Source: New Zealand Police

Attribute to Western Waikato Area Response Manager, Senior Sergeant Mary van Dongen: 

Police arrested two people, impounded a dirtbike and located firearms during a search warrant yesterday at an address in Te Kauwhata, after the alleged driver fled from Police on Monday.

At around 7:40pm Monday 17 November, Police witnessed a man riding a dirtbike with no helmet on Main Road. Officers signalled the driver to stop, however they failed to do so – due to the nature of driving Police did not pursue, and instead noted down the details of the bike for follow up.

Yesterday, Police made enquiries at a Te Kauwhata address where they located and impounded the dirtbike.

While at the address, Police sighted a farm vehicle, that had been reported stolen from a nearby address at an earlier date, and utensils for drug use which has subsequently authorised a warrantless search and seizure.

Police have then located an assortment of firearms and ammunition. As a result, two people were taken into custody.

A 26-year-old man is due in Huntly District Court on 25 November, charged with receiving stolen property, driving while disqualified, failing to stop for police when signalled, unlawfully possessing ammunition, and unlawfully possessing firearms.

A 24-year-old man appeared in Huntly District Court today, charged with breaching bail.

Police would like to remind dirtbike riders to do so lawfully and safely – adhere to the road rules, make sure you are always wearing protective wear and the dirtbike needs to be roadworthy with a current warrant and registration.

If you witness any anti-social road user behaviour, we urge you to report it immediately by calling 111 or to make a report via 105 if it is after the fact.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government has officially ended the use of Contracted Emergency Housing (CEH) motels in Rotorua, taking the number of households in CEH from its peak of over 240 households across 13 motels under the previous Government down to zero today, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says.

Source: New Zealand Ministry of Health