Category: Crime and Emergency

Invermay Avenue in Mt Roskill-Balmoral area is blocked this morning between Dominion Road and Hardley Avenue due to police executing a search warrant. This block will disrupt commuters for at least two hours or more this morning. Drivers are ask to take alternative routes, and the cordons are at the following intersections:

Please attribute to Sergeant Matthew Wheble, SAR Coordinator: Police are looking for a woman missing in the Eastbourne and Days Bay area of Lower Hutt. 55-year-old Kerry Scott went for a walk from her home on Muritai Road in Eastbourne at around 9pm last night. Her partner called Police at around midnight reporting that she had not returned home.

The search to find Tyler Nii at Lake Wakatipu has finished for today. There is no significant update to provide as a result of today’s search. The Police National Dive Squad will reassess the search again tomorrow.

Police and emergency services are in attendance at a crash, located at the roundabout at the intersection of Russley and Harewood Roads in Christchurch. A car and a motorbike have collided around 5:40pm. Injuries are unknown at this stage. Traffic is moving, but slower than normal, and Police ask that motorists avoid the area if possible.

Police are currently in attendance at a serious crash on the Southern Motorway, Auckland after a truck and motorcyclist collided. The Motorway is currently closed North Bound between Hingaia Road, Karaka and Takanini. The motorcyclist has serious injuries and will be transported to Middlemore Hospital.

Police can now release the name of the man who died in a crash on State Highway 2 in Whakamarama on Saturday night. He was Daniel William Thompson, 27-years-old, from Katikati. The Serious Crash Unit investigation is ongoing.

Police are looking for Raymond Stirling who has been reported missing in Hamilton this afternoon. The 84-year-old was last seen in the Halcione Close area yesterday evening around 7pm. He is of slim and frail build. Police and Mr Stirling’s family are concerned for his well-being as he suffers from mild dementia.

Please attribute to Senior Sergeant Darryl Lennane: At around 3:30pm on Sunday 14 January 2018 a cyclist riding north on George Street, Dunedin was stopped at red traffic lights at the intersection with Saint Andrew Street, when he was hit from behind by a car. The tyre of the cyclist’s bike became stuck under the vehicle and he was attempting to remove it when the male driver of the vehicle began tooting his horn at him.

Please attribute to a police spokesperson: Police and other emergency services remain at the site of a serious crash on Matakana Rd, Matakana. Based on further information from the scene, four people have been transported to hospital as a result of the crash, which involved a van and a truck and trailer unit.

Please attribute to a police spokesperson: Emergency services are in attendance at a serious crash on Matakana Rd in Matakana, which occurred around 12.30pm. Two people have received serious injuries.

A truck driver has died after his truck and trailer unit rolled at Beaumont, in the Clutha District. Emergency services were called to Rongahere Road, about 3km south of Beaumont, at 6:22am. The driver of the truck was trapped in the cab, and was unfortunately pronounced dead at the scene.

Please attribute to Inspector Olaf Jensen, Area Commander Otago Lakes Central The Police National Dive Squad is again operating on Lake Wakatipu as efforts continue to find Tyler Nii. The squad, based on a barge in the Jack’s Point area, has been out on the water since 6am.

Attribute to Detective Senior Sergeant Martin James Hawke’s Bay Police assisted by LandSAR and Surf Life Saving teams will today search the Haumoana reserve and estuary area for missing French tourist Pierre Paludet. The 32-year-old was last seen in the area on Friday night.

Please attribute to Senior Sergeant Ian Byrne, Waitemata Police. At approximately 9.35am this morning, emergency services were called to a property in Helensville following a workplace accident. One person has received critical injuries. 

Police is now able to release the name of the man who died at Waimarama Beach on Sunday evening.  He was 26-year-old Hemin Vinubhai Limbachiya of Napier.  Police offers their sympathies to Mr Limbachiya’s family at this difficult time.

One person is dead following a crash involving a car and a motorcycle on Purau Port Levy Road, near Christchurch. The crash occurred around 5:30pm. Serious Crash Unit have been notified and the road will be closed while they investigate.

Attribute to Inspector David White The Police National Dive Squad has recovered a body from the Rangitikei River near Bulls. While a formal identification process is yet to be carried out it is believed to be the missing 16-year-old swimmer.

Please attribute to Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Worner: Police are continuing to make enquiries into the aggravated robbery at Trevino’s Tavern, Christchurch, early on Sunday morning. Shortly after midnight a man walked into the bar with a firearm, threatened an employee and stole cash.

Please attribute to Detective Sergeant Craig Vining: Hawkes Bay CIB are investigating the aggravated robbery of a pizza delivery driver late last night in central Napier. The offenders, a group of four or five males, called in a pizza order and waited for the 22-year-old male victim to arrive.

A search of the Rangitikei River recommenced today for a 16-year-old boy. Police were notified of the missing swimmer at 6pm last night. The Police National Dive Squad is on the Rangitikei River near Bulls.

Inquiries are ongoing to locate missing French tourist Pierre Paludet, who was last seen with his car at a beach car park at Haumoana, Hawke’s Bay, on Friday morning. There is no physical search taking place today, unless new information comes to light through our inquiries. Police has received information from members of the public, via Facebook and in person at Police stations, and is following up this information.

Drivers using SH29 over the Kaimai Range are urged to take extra care and slow down due to an oil spill on the road – just down from the summit on the Matamata side. The route’s down to one lane each way while contractors clean up oil that has reportedly spread up to 300 metres. The spill happened after a crash involving a ute and a car, to which emergency services were called at 10.11am.

Attribute to Inspector Olaf Jensen, Area Commander Otago Lakes Central The Police National Dive Squad has arrived in Queenstown. They will be setting up sonar equipment this morning and will be out on Lake Wakatipu.

Attributable to Detective Mike Signal, Hawke’s Bay Police: At around 6.50 pm on Sunday evening a group were swimming at Waimarama Beach in front of the surf club. They were around chest-deep in the water when a male and a female started to be swept out to sea. A third member of the party was unable to assist.

One person has drowned at Waimarama Beach in Hawke’s Bay this evening.
 
Police were called to the beach shortly before 7pm after three people got into difficulty in the water.
 
Sadly one of the people died after being recovered from the water.

A search is under way in the Rangitikei River this evening for a teenage boy reported missing.

One person has been confirmed dead following a crash near Sanson at 4.45pm this afternoon. The crash involved two cars and a logging truck. The deceased person was the sole occupant of one of the cars.

Emergency services are attending a serious crash involving a car and a motorcycle on SH 1 near Kaipara Flats Road, Dome Forest. The pillion passenger of the motorcycle has been seriously injured. One lane of the road is open but traffic has built up in the area and is moving very slowly.

Emergency services are responding to a crash on State Highway 1, approximately 10km south of Sanson.
 
The crash occurred at 4.45pm and is believed to have involved a car and a logging truck.

Police can now release the name of the man who died in a crash on Wainui Road near Kinleith on Friday 12 January.
 
He was Edward Tumaru Pahuru, 57, from Mangakino. 
 
Police are investigating the possibility that Mr Pahuru suffered a medical event prior to the crash and the matter has been referred to the Coroner.

One person is dead and three others injured following a crash between two vehicles on State Highway 2 in Whakamarama last night. Emergency services were called to the crash between a car and a van around 11:40pm. One person died at the scene and three others were transported to Tauranga hospital with serious injuries. Serious Crash Unit are investigating.

One person is dead following a motorcycle crash on Highway 22 in Pukekawa. Police and emergency services are currently at the scene where the motorcyclist has died. The road is closed and diversions are in place. The Serious Crash Unit has been advised.

Attribute to Detective Andrew Beswick Police are investigating the aggravated robbery of a bar and restaurant on Riccarton Road overnight.  At around midnight a man walked into Trevinos Bar and Restaurant with a firearm, threatened an employee and stole cash.

Hawke’s Bay Police are searching for missing 32-year-old French tourist Pierre Paludet. The car he has been travelling in was found in a beach car park in Haumoana, east of Hastings on Friday (12 January). See photo attached.

A 71-year-old man has been seriously injured in a crash in Wainuiomata this afternoon.
 
The man was backing out of his driveway in Wise Street at around 2.30pm when his vehicle was hit by a car travelling along Wise Street.

Police can now release the name of the missing skydiver who fell into Lake Wakatipu on Wednesday 10 January.
 
He was Tyler Nii, 27 years old, from California.  Mr Nii was on holiday in New Zealand.

Police can now release the name of the cyclist who died following the crash on State Highway 50A, Frimley, Hawke’s Bay on Wednesday (10 January). He was 70-year-old Ted Tamai from Hastings. Police’s thoughts are with his family and friends at this time.

One person has died following a single vehicle crash on Wainui Rd near Kinleith, south Waikato. The crash happened on a forestry road and emergency services were contacted at 1.27pm. The driver of the truck, the sole occupant, has died.

Police want to track down a man who became involved in an incident with a fleeing driver in Lower Hutt this morning. At approximately 7am Police attempted to pull over a stolen vehicle which was being driven through the Lower Hutt CBD. The driver failed to stop and a brief pursuit was initiated before being abandoned for safety reasons.

Please attribute to Detective Tim Cook: Police have arrested a 17-year-old male in connection with a fire in Invercargill in the early hours of 9 January. Police were notified of the building fire around 1am on Tuesday. The building was extensively damaged in the fire, however no one was injured.

Statement attributable to Inspector Olaf Jensen, Area Commander Otago Lakes Central Police are continuing to investigate options for locating and recovering the body of the missing skydiver who fell into Lake Wakatipu on Wednesday 10 January. The Police National Dive Squad will arrive in Queenstown over the weekend to assess conditions and the viability of using sonar equipment to assist with locating and if practical recovering the body.  The operation is a very complex one given the depth of Lake Wakatipu. 

Fuqi Kan, the 67-year-old man who went missing from Ellerslie yesterday afternoon has been found safe and well and has been reunited with his family. Police would like to thank the media and members of the public for their assistance in this matter.

As the summer holidays come to a close for many, Southern District Police are urging drivers to take care if they are hitting the roads in the coming days. “We’re expecting the roads in the southern area to be very busy between today and Sunday as holiday makers leave the Otago Lakes area,” says Area Commander Inspector Olaf Jensen. “It’s really important that people consider their responsibility in keeping our roads safe before they get behind the wheel.

Police are calling for public assistance to help us to locate a man who went missing from Ellerslie yesterday afternoon (10/01/2018).  Fuqi Kan is 67-years-old and was last seen on Main Highway, Ellerslie around 4pm yesterday.   Police and Mr Kan’s family and friends are concerned for his wellbeing and ask that anyone who sees him to contact Police immediately.   

Police are now in a position to name the woman who was killed following a crash near Pohlen Road, Waikato on Sunday 7 January. She was Jocelyn Irene Williams, aged 38 of Hastings.  Our condolences are extended to the family and friends of Jocelyn.

Rotorua Police are continuing to conduct enquiries on behalf of the coroner in relation to the death of a woman after a tree fell on her car last week. The incident occurred on Amohia Street around 10:45am on 6 January. Tragically a 56-year-old woman died at the scene.

Statement attributable to Inspector Olaf Jensen, Area Commander Otago Lakes Central Today the Police Dive Squad will be investigating the viability of using sonar equipment to assist with the recovery of the skydiver missing at Lake Wakatipu. Given the nature of the incident and the time that has past the ongoing Police activity is focussed on a recovery operation rather than a rescue.

A man has been arrested in relation to a family harm incident which occurred on Major Drive, Kelson on 8 January 2018. A 30-year-old local man was arrested last night and will be appearing in the Lower Hutt District Court today facing various charges in relation to the incident. No further comment can be made as this case is now before the courts.

Otago Lakes Central Area Commander Inspector Olaf Jensen will be available to speak with media this morning in regard to the Police co-ordinated water and air search for the missing male skydiver on Lake Wakatipu. A media stand-up will be held with Inspector Jensen outside Queenstown Police Station at 11am.  Attending media are asked to gather outside the station and set up from 10.45am. At the stand-up Inspector Jensen will give an update on the search and the plan going forward.

Police are at the scene of a truck that has rolled over on SH1 Tinwald, Ashburton at the intersection of Hendersons Road.  The crash happened at about before 5.30am The driver is uninjured and no other vehicle has been involved.  The truck is clear of the railway lines, however the road is completely blocked.  There are diversions in place and motorists are asked to observe these diversions while the road is being cleared and this could take some time. 

Police are seeking the public’s help following an incident on Major Drive in Kelson on Monday morning. At around 9:30am Police were called to a family harm incident between a man and a woman, which occurred outside the shopping area. A member of the public saw the man assaulting the woman and intervened to help her. He confronted the man about his behaviour and tried to prevent him from leaving.

A Police co-ordinated water and air search for a missing male skydiver on Lake Wakatipu was suspended at about 4.40pm. A shoreline search involving LandSAR and the Coastguard will continue until about 6.30pm tonight. Emergency services are looking for the skydiver who was in a tandem jump.

Police and emergency services are in attendance at an address on Vista Paku in Pauanui. An elderly woman was found unresponsive in a pool on the property around 3:30pm. Emergency services attempted to revive her but were unsuccessful. The death will be referred to the Coroner.

A Police co-ordinated response to a water rescue on Lake Wakatipu is ongoing. Emergency services were contacted at 1.42pm with a report that two skydivers had landed in the lake, near Jack’s Point. We have now ascertained that this was a tandem jump involving two males.

Police have now arrested two people in relation to the fire at an elderly victim’s home in Ranui, West Auckland. A 14 year old female has been charged with Burglary, Arson and Wilful Damage. An 18 year old male has been charged with Burglary and Arson.

Emergency services are responding to a water rescue on Lake Wakatipu. After being alerted at 1.42pm, Police responded to a report of two skydivers landing in the lake, near Jack’s Point. Both the Coastguard and the Harbourmaster have been informed.

Emergency services received a number of calls just before 5pm yesterday reporting a woman and two children who were in trouble while swimming at Haumoana River Mouth. The woman failed to surface after the children were retrieved from the water.  Police and Search and Rescue teams were deployed but were unable to find her.  The search resumed this morning and she was located deceased at Haumoana Beach at 6.35am. She was Amy Jenny Brown, a 35-year-old woman from Taupo. 

Media Statement from the family of Amy Brown: “Our family has lost a loving mother and faithful friend; A partner, precious daughter, sister and beautiful niece and cousin. This is a terrible tragedy that we are struggling to come to terms with.  We are however a strong family and with the support of so many, we will get through.   The family want to thank the many people who have worked so hard and given their time and expertise to help us.  We are eternally grateful to the two women who dived into the sea to rescue our precious little ones and we would like to acknowledge their bravery and thank the group of people on the beach who supported the family until emergency services arrived.

Police can now release the name of the diver who died at Flat Point, Masterton on 17 December. He was 31-year-old Leroy Smith of Manawatu. Leroy’s body was recovered by members of his family on 18 December. At the time Police incorrectly reported he was found by a member of the public, this error is regretted.

Please attribute to Detective Sergeant Andre Kavanagh Police are investigating the arson of a vehicle at a commercial address in Killarney Road, Hamilton. The incident occurred in the early hours of Monday 8 January 2018.

Police and emergency services are in attendance at a serious crash at the intersection of Omahu Road and State Highway 50A, Frimley. Police were called around 10:15am after a cyclist was reportedly hit by a car and has been seriously injured. The road is closed and motorists are asked to avoid the area.

Emergency services remain at the scene of a crash at the intersection of Omahu Road and State Highway 50A, Frimley. Police were called around 10:15am after a cyclist was reportedly hit by a car. The cyclist has died at the scene. The Serious Crash Unit has been notified and the road is likely to be closed for some time. Traffic management is in place.

Police are investigating after a fire was deliberately lit and a window smashed at an elderly woman’s address in Ranui, West Auckland. At approximately 10pm on Sunday 7 January 2018, four teenagers, three females and a male, all estimated to be aged around 14 – 18 years of age knocked on the 88-year-old victim’s door and asked for a drink of water which she kindly provided. Shortly after, they came back again however the victim asked them to leave. Two of the females reacted by smashing one of her windows before leaving the address. The victim called a neighbour and placed a couch up against the window to secure it overnight.

Search and Rescue staff have discovered a body at Haumoana Beach, Eastern District at 6.35am this morning. The body is yet to be identified. More information will be released later this morning.

Attributable to Detective Senior Sergeant Martin James: The search for a woman believed to have drowned at the river mouth at Haumoana has been called off for the night. The Police National Dive Squad has been advised and is due to arrive in Hawke’s Bay in the morning.

The search for a woman swept out at Haumoana, Hawke’s Bay, this afternoon is expected to continue until dark. Emergency services were notified around 4:50pm of three people that were in trouble in the water at Haumoana. Two children made it back on shore and were taken to hospital, and are in a stable condition.

Police have today arrested two men in relation to the aggravated robbery of Liquorland in Masterton yesterday afternoon. At about 3.30pm two masked men entered the Liquorland at the junction of Michael Street and Chapel Street. One of the men pointed a pistol at the staff while the second man took the till drawer from behind the counter. Both men were heavily disguised wearing hoods and masks.

At least two vehicles are involved in a crash on SH 73, Waimakariri Gorge Road, in the Selwyn District. Emergency services were notified at 4:15pm, and at least one person appears to have serious injuries. The Serious Crash Unit has been advised.

Police have today arrested 19-year-old Matthew McRae who was wanted to arrest for escaping custody on Tuesday 2 January 2018. He was located and arrested in Masterton this morning. He will appear in the Masterton District Court tomorrow charged with escaping custody.

Matthew McRae has been charged with breaching court release conditions, not escaping custody as previously reported.  Issued by Police Media Centre

Please attribute to Detective Sergeant Andre Kavanagh Hamilton Police are investigating the aggravated robbery of the Challenge Service Station on Naylor Road.  Last night at approximately 9.50 pm four offenders entered the store and assaulted an employee before stealing cigarettes and cash. The employee received a minor injury.

Police are now able to release the name of the woman who died after a tree fell on her car on Amohia Street, Rotorua, on 5 January. She was 56-year-old Trisha Butterworth of Rotorua. Police extends their sympathies to her family during this tragic time.

A 38-year-old man has been arrested in relation to two incidents at a Church Street, Palmerston North address.
 
The man is facing a number of charges in relation to the two incidents, which occurred on 14 October 2017 and 5 January 2018. 
 
The charges include burglary, aggravated robbery, indecent assault and threatening to kill.

Please attribute to Inspector Jason Greenhalgh: At approximately 8.15am this morning, emergency services were called to a building site on Commodore Drive, Lynnfield following a workplace accident. A man was killed after he was hit by a vehicle.

Attributable to Sergeant Malcolm York, Nelson Police Search and Rescue: Nelson Coastguard and Police have been kept busy over the last week by an increasing number of water rescues in and around Tasman Bay. Changeable weather conditions have seen a number of people caught out in situations where their lack of planning and experience left them at risk, and also put the people who went to rescue them at risk.

A 66-year-old woman who went missing from Pakuranga Heights on 6 January 2018 has been found safe and well. Elisapeta Soli went missing from her home address early on Saturday morning and was later located by two members of the public. Police would like to thank the public and media for their assistance in this matter.

Attribute to Detective Constable Rhyan Honeyfield Hawke’s Bay Police are investigating a series of deliberately lit fires in the Hastings suburb of Frimley in recent weeks. In the early hours of the 30th of December a hedge on a Nottingley Road property was set alight. 

A new road safety advertising campaign is directly challenging speeding drivers to slow down and stop defending their perceived ‘right’ to speed. The joint NZ Transport Agency/Police campaign addresses the significant proportion of the driving population who still like to travel at speeds which are too fast for the conditions, on the open road and around town, posing a risk to themselves and to others who share the roads with them. “Every week, 11 people are seriously injured or killed in a speed-related crash on New Zealand roads, but a substantial portion of our society does not see the connection between speed and crashes,” says NZ Transport Agency Director of Safety and Environment Harry Wilson.

Police are now able to release the name of the motorcyclist who died following a crash on SH75, Christchurch Akaroa Road, yesterday around 9:40am. He was 24-year-old Caleb Lawrence Wilkinson of Christchurch. Police offers their sympathies to Mr Wilkinson’s friends and family at this difficult time.

Police have concerns for her safety due to her intellectual disability and dementia. Previously Elisapeta has been located at the Auckland Airport, as well as the Otara and Middlemore areas. Elisapeta is a 66year old female Samoan. She is 165cm tall and of medium build. She has black shoulder length hair and speaks very little English.