Source: New Zealand Police
Location:
Police can advise the 33-year-old woman reported missing from the Three Kings area has been located safe and well.
We would like to thank those who provided information to Police, which assisted in locating her.
ENDS.
Holly McKay/NZ Police
Source: New Zealand Government
Construction work to remove many of Auckland’s level crossings and replace them with over-bridges for vehicles and pedestrians begins next week in a boost for the city’s productivity and job creation, Transport Minister Chris Bishop and Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown say.
Earlier this year, the Government and Auckland Council agreed to jointly contribute funding for the removal of level crossings in Takanini and Glen Innes. The level crossings will be removed or replaced with grade-separated crossings to maximise the City Rail Link’s ability to speed up journey times by rail and road and boost Auckland’s productivity.
The scope of the Takanini and Glen Innes package includes a total of eight level crossing removals or replacements: three new grade-separated road bridges, three new pedestrian access bridges, and the closure of two unsafe level crossings.
“The City Rail Link is on schedule to open next year, and will reshape travel for much of Auckland. Commuters can expect faster journeys, less congestion, and a range of other major benefits,” Mr Bishop says.
“Level crossings – where roads intersect with train tracks – are a common source of frustration for motorists. Most people know the sinking feeling when warning lights start flashing and the barriers come down, signalling an approaching train. For truck drivers, tradies, couriers, and many others, those minutes of waiting can mean lost time, and in many cases, lost income.”
The Mayor has championed making it easier for people to get to their destinations quickly and safely.
“I’ve always focused on getting Auckland moving and committed to making sure council’s share of funding was included in the Long-Term Plan so it’s great to see work starting on an initiative that will deliver on this,” says Mayor Brown.
“Level crossings are not an easy fix and it was another problem added to my fix list when I became mayor, but I was determined to find a solution and now we can get this done.
“With the City Rail Link opening next year, allowing for more trains to be added to the network, removing the level crossings and building new road and pedestrian bridges will cut congestion and make it safer for people to walk and drive in the area.
“This is about getting a good deal for Aucklanders and is a great example of what can happen when government and council partner to get the work done and improve safety.”
In February 2025 the Government and Auckland Council each confirmed $200 million in funding for the first three years of the work. The NZTA Board approved funding in April 2025. It is anticipated that the remainder of the cost will be allocated through the National Land Transport Programme 2027-2030.
“The CRL is a game changer but there’s a lot of work to be done to maximise how we use it effectively, removing barriers that will slow trains down and cause congestion and providing Aucklanders and visitors easy and safe access to public transport,” says Mayor Brown.
Source: Press Release Service
Headline: EV.nz Charges onto the Kiwi EV Scene – A Fresh Spark in Aotearoa’s Electric Future
EV.nz has launched as New Zealand’s go-to hub for electric vehicles, helping Kiwis compare models, understand charging, and stay updated as EV adoption tops 120,000 nationwide.
The post EV.nz Charges onto the Kiwi EV Scene – A Fresh Spark in Aotearoa’s Electric Future first appeared on PR.co.nz.
Source: New Zealand Police
Please attribute to Detective Senior Sergeant Ash Matthews of Auckland City District Police:
A woman is assisting Police with enquiries after the discovery of the body of a newborn baby in Albert Park early this morning.
Police were called to the scene about 7am after a park worker discovered the infant.
Sadly, when examined, there were no signs of life.
A scene examination is now underway, and Police are speaking to a woman believed to be the baby’s mother.
A post-mortem examination will also be carried out in the coming days.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: New Zealand Police
Police are asking for the public’s help after an assault on the roadside on Friday in Tokoroa.
About 4.15am near the intersection of Old Taupo Road and Baird Road, a man stopped his vehicle to assist another motorist.
During this interaction he was allegedly assaulted, causing a head injury.
He is now recovering at home.
Police are now working to establish the full circumstances of what has occurred, and to locate the other party believed to be involved.
We would like to hear from anyone who saw one or two cars pulled over to the side of the road in that area on Friday between 4.15am and 4.35am.
If you saw something, or have any dashcam footage of that area around that time, please get in touch.
You can do so by calling 105, quoting file number 250823/7697.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: New Zealand Police
One person has died following a crash in Te Mata yesterday evening.
At around 5.50pm, Police were alerted to a single-vehicle crash on Kawhia Road.
Despite best efforts of emergency services, one person died at the scene.
One other person was transported to hospital in a moderate condition.
The Serious Crash Unit has examined the scene, and enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: BNZ Statements
New Zealand homeowners could be leaving thousands of dollars on the table each year, with a new BNZ survey suggesting a significant knowledge gap about offset mortgages – a product that helped BNZ customers save over $200 million in home loan interest last year alone.
While most respondents have heard of offset mortgages, nearly half (46%) admitted they either don’t know much about them or have never heard of them at all. In addition, 29% of those who know about them also believe you need to keep large balances in your account all year for offset mortgages to be effective.
“There’s a real disconnect between awareness and understanding when it comes to this type of home loan,” says BNZ General Manager Home Lending James Leydon.
“This suggests many could be missing out on a straightforward way to reduce their interest, too often because they think it’s only for wealthy people or that it’s too complex to manage.”
Offset mortgages allow homeowners to link their everyday transaction and savings accounts to their home loan, so the money in those accounts reduces the balance on which interest is calculated. Borrowers can split their home loan between offset and fixed rate portions, combining the benefits of interest savings with rate certainty.
The $200 million question
The scale of potential savings is significant.
BNZ’s own data shows that in 2024 alone, customers using its TotalMoney offset home loan saved $200 million in interest payments.
More than 13,000 customers paid zero interest on their TotalMoney loans for periods throughout the year, while the average effective interest rate across all TotalMoney loans was just 1.71% p.a.
“These aren’t just wealthy people – these are everyday New Zealanders who’ve learned how to make their money work smarter,” says Leydon.
“People from all walks of life are using their regular savings and their transaction account balances to offset their home loan interest.”
Busting the myths
Among those who responded to the survey, misconceptions emerged that may be preventing homeowners from exploring offset options:
“The beauty of offset home loans is they work with whatever money you have,” explains Leydon.
“Whether it’s your pay sitting in your account for a few weeks, holiday savings building up over months, or your emergency fund, every dollar reduces the interest you pay, even if it’s only there temporarily.”
Unlike traditional savings accounts that generally earn minimal interest, money in offset accounts can effectively “earn” the equivalent of your home loan rate – currently around 5-6% for most borrowers.
Despite the benefits, only 27% of respondents indicated they have an offset loan and are using the money in their savings and their transaction accounts to offset their mortgage interest.
“We know many homeowners are looking for ways to reduce their costs in the current economic environment, and I would really encourage them to explore offset options. Especially when you consider that in many cases, it’s simply about restructuring existing money rather than finding additional funds.”
Making home loan dollars work harder
BNZ allows customers to connect up to 50 TotalMoney transaction and savings accounts – including family members’ accounts – with balances automatically offsetting home loan interest daily.
The bank has been refining the product since its launch, responding to customer feedback about making home loan management simpler and more effective.
“We want more people to understand that offset mortgages aren’t just for property investors or high-net-worth individuals,” says Leydon.
“They’re a practical tool for anyone who keeps money in bank accounts and wants to reduce their home loan interest.”
Source: BNZ Voice customer panel survey, 23rd July to 3rd August 2025. Responses applied to this analysis from n=277 respondents with any home loan. The profile of participating customers was not controlled for this survey.
The post Homeowners could be missing out on thousands in potential home loan savings, BNZ survey reveals appeared first on BNZ Debrief.
Source: Media Outreach
FUJIAN, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 23 August 2025 – On August 16, 2025, in Hanoi, Vietnam, Chinese maternal and infant brand BB Kitty ushered in a significant moment – the grand opening of the “Strategic Cooperation Signing and Investment Promotion Ceremony” co-hosted with its Vietnamese agent. This event not only marks the official acceleration of BB Kitty’s commercialization process in Southeast Asia, but also represents a key step in Suncare’s global layout.
The on-site proceedings were concise yet highly impactful. First, both parties launched the cooperation ceremony.Next, the strategic signing session clarified core sales targets and the Southeast Asian market layout for 2025. Then, during the award ceremony, BB Kitty’s General Manager awarded plaques to outstanding Vietnamese distributors, with their participation injecting stronger momentum into the expansion of BB Kitty products in regional markets.The moment the agreement was signed symbolized that BB Kitty would bring the concept of “born for baby” to thousands of local families.
BB Kitty has always adhered to the product philosophy of “born for baby”. The core appeal of our brand lies in its commitment to quality. Our products are backed by a high-end manufacturing system, featuring a 50,000-square-meter dust-free workshop and top-tier Japanese and German equipment, which are leading in the industry. We cooperate with nine Fortune 500 raw material suppliers to strictly control product quality, supported by a complete quality monitoring system. Additionally, we hold 68 patents, over 160 intellectual property registrations, and product safety certifications such as CE and the Sensitive Skin Dermatest certification,establishing a robust safety guarantee for our products. We are committed to providing safe, comfortable and reliable products, becoming a trusted choice for families worldwide.
The General Manager of BB Kitty emphasized that Vietnam will be one of BB Kitty’s strategic fulcrums. Our brand will continue to export high-quality Chinese products, allowing Southeast Asian consumers to experience BB Kitty’s brand charm.
Over the next decade, BB Kitty will expand into 45 countries and regions worldwide, establishing branch offices in Southeast Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. We will prioritize developing Hong Kong as a trade center, Shenzhen as a brand marketing center, and Quanzhou as a product R&D and supply chain center. We look forward to more partners joining us to spread this love to every corner of the globe.
Hashtag: #BBKitty
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.
Source: Media Outreach
BEIJING, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 23 August 2025 – This year marks the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Xizang Autonomous Region.
With an average elevation of over 4,000 meters, this region was once described as “the limit of human survival.”
Yet on the “roof of the world,” China carved three “Sky Roads” that reshaped the destiny of this land.
In ancient times, Xizang had only mule and yak trails, with no highways at all. From 1950 to 1954, the Sichuan-Xizang Highway and the Qinghai-Xizang Highway were built, ending Xizang’s millennia-long isolation.
Stretching over 4,300 kilometers in total, the two “Sky Roads” were hailed as “golden bridges that bring happiness.”
With the construction of the Qinghai-Xizang, Sichuan-Xizang, and Ngari power transmission lines, Xizang made a historic shift in electricity supply—from rationing to surplus.
It not only transmits electricity outward, but also provides clean energy through the West-to-East Power Transmission program.
Today, trunk railways crisscross Xizang, with bullet trains in operation. Highways link the region to the rest of the nation and extend all the way to its villages. All towns across Xizang now enjoy full 5G coverage. With its civil aviation system seamlessly integrated, an “Air Silk Road” has also taken shape.
From highways to power lines, from networks to new pathways, a modernization roadmap for “the roof of the world” is unfolding.
Hashtag: #SkyRoads
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.
Source: New Zealand Police
One person died in a crash on Pipiwai Road in Ngararatunua, Northland last night.
Police were notified of the single vehicle crash just after 10pm yesterday (22 August).
Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are under way.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre.
