Northland Police have uncovered a substantial amount of ammunition, drugs and cash after executing a search warrant in Onerahi this morning.
Two people are now facing charges are officers executed a search at a Ross Street property.
Detective Senior Sergeant Shane Pilmer, Whangārei CIB, says officers found a significant amount of methamphetamine, cash and ammunition at the address, as well as a grenade.
“These arrests continue on from good Police work earlier in the week.
“We have zero tolerance for this type of offending, and will continue to hold those responsible to account.”
A 29-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman, both charged with unlawful possession of ammunition and possession for supply of methamphetamine, will appear in Whangārei District Court tomorrow.
Suspicious or illegal activity should be reported to 111 if it’s happening now.
Northland Police have easily answered a pesky dirt bike rider’s question “catch me if ‘ya can” – yes, we just did.
The taunting question was sent to Police by a rider who had been causing havoc amongst the Whangārei community in recent months.
It ended up with the youth in custody, and the bike taken off his hands, Northland Road Policing Manager Inspector John Fagan says.
This is one of several results as Police crackdown on unsafe and illegal dirt bike riding activity across Northland’s communities.
“Police share the frustrations expressed by many in the community with dangerous activity on public roads and public spaces,” Inspector Fagan says.
“In many cases this involves young people posting their offending footage online for clout.
“What they don’t realise is that they are committing offences which put themselves and other people at serious risk.”
Members of the Whangārei Youth Crime Unit executed a search warrant at a Maunu property recently.
“We located a 14-year-old as part of enquiries into an earlier incident where his bike failed to stop for Police,” Inspector Fagan says.
“The young male had also been posting footage online, including sending an image to Police social media pages with the message ‘catch me if ‘ya can’.
The teenager is being dealt with by Youth Aid and his dirt bike has been impounded.
Bikes off the road in Kaitaia:
Up in the Far North, Police took dirt bikes off the road in Kaitaia after numerous driving complaints in preceding weeks.
“Staff patrolling came across two bikes being driven recklessly, and it turned out it was bikes of interest to Police,” Inspector Fagan says.
Both bikes ended up being stopped by Police.
Enquiries established both riders had previously been forbidden from operating a vehicle.
A tow truck was called and both bikes were impounded off the road.
“Concerningly, both riders were young people and they had been carrying a child with them at the time.
“It’s fortunate that none of those young people were injured as a result of reckless behaviour.
“These bikes are not toys and have the ability to cause harm and damage to both people and property.”
Reporting is key:
Northland Police continue to encourage the community to report instances of dangerous driving behaviour in their community.
Inspector Fagan says reporting helps Police build a picture of those people involved, enabling enforcement action to be carried out.
“We really encourage people to report offending as it happens, including bike and rider descriptions, or what addresses these people are travelling from,” he says.
“I know this is an issue that causes frustration amongst so many in our community, and we will keep working to make sure our communities are safe.”
Report offending taking place by calling 111, or report to Police after something has occurred either online or by calling 105.
People can report information anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
Defence Minister Judith Collins has visited Ukraine, seeing firsthand the heartbreaking human cost of war to its people.
“Russia’s illegal invasion has brought misery and destruction to the Ukrainian people for three-and-a-half long years now,” Ms Collins says.
“New Zealand’s response was swift when Russia invaded in February 2022 – and our support for Ukraine remains steadfast. This was the key message I conveyed in Kyiv.”
While in Kyiv Ms Collins had formal talks with her Ukrainian counterpart, Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal, and engagements with Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, the Office of the President and Deputy Minister of Defense Oleksandr Kozenko.
She also paid her respects at the Wall of Remembrance in Mykhailivska Square and visited the site of a residential apartment building hit by a Russian ballistic missile on 17 June, killing 23 civilians, including children.
“Seeing the devastating impact of Russia’s illegal war – the disruption to everyday life, the human cost, the impact on children, the physical destruction – was heartbreaking,” Ms Collins says.
“My visit, accompanied by Chief of Defence Force Air Marshal Tony Davies, was a tangible reminder of both New Zealand’s strong support for Ukraine and our strong support for the international rules-based order.
“My counterparts said they deeply valued the fact we had made the effort to travel from the other side of the world to demonstrate New Zealand’s support and solidarity for Ukraine, and that it gave them enormous strength.”
Ms Collins also visited Warsaw, Poland, where she met Deputy Foreign Minister Władysław Teofil Bartoszewski and laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. She is also scheduled to meet Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz.
“Poland remains one of our most trusted partners in Central and Eastern Europe,” Ms Collins says.
“We are united by shared values and strategic interests that underpin our close relationship.
“My engagements in Warsaw underline Poland’s critical role as both the key logistical hub for support to Ukraine and the anchor of NATO’s eastern flank.”
Following engagements in Poland, Ms Collins will travel to the UK, to undertake defence and security-focused meetings.
“New Zealand and the UK have a deep and enduring security partnership, including through our Five Eyes relationship,” Ms Collins says.
“These ties play a vital role in safeguarding the security of both our nations and allow us to contribute to collective efforts to uphold global security. I look forward to engaging with UK counterparts in the days ahead.”
Ms Collins returns to New Zealand on September 13.
Starting in 2026 with UFC® FIGHT NIGHT MACAU and ROAD TO UFC Season 5 Opening Round
MACAU SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 4 September 2025 – Galaxy Macau™ Integrated Resort (hereinafter as “Galaxy Macau”) is proud to announce a landmark four-year strategic partnership with UFC, the world’s premier mixed martial arts (MMA) organization. This exciting collaboration will bring three UFC FIGHT NIGHT® events to the iconic Galaxy Arena from 2026 through 2029.
The strategic partnership between Asia’s leading luxury integrated resort and the world’s top MMA promotion is set to captivate fans across the region, further cementing Macau’s position at the forefront of the global sports and entertainment stage. More importantly, it adds a thrilling new dimension to the city’s event calendar, giving both locals and international visitors even more reasons to experience Macau.
MMA is a full-contact combat sport that combines techniques from boxing, wrestling, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and other martial arts. The sport captivates fans and viewers with raw energy and dramatic moments. A UFC event combines the highest level of MMA action with unparalleled production to produce an exhilarating spectacle that resonates with audiences worldwide.
As part of the agreement, Galaxy Macau will also host the opening round of UFC’s renowned ROAD TO UFC tournament in 2026 — a talent-development series that provides elite emerging fighters from Asia-Pacific with a pathway to compete in the UFC. The competition follows a win-to-advance format across multiple weight classes, with winners earning coveted UFC contracts and gaining a fanbase along the way. At UFC® FIGHT NIGHTMACAU in November 2024, well-known Chinese athlete Shi Ming – a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner – defeated Feng Xiaocan in the women’s strawweight final to secure a UFC contract.
To elevate the excitement, each UFC FIGHT NIGHT® in Macau from 2026 will be complemented by a week-long program of activities, including fan meet-and-greets and appearances by star fighters, creating a festival-like atmosphere both inside and outside the arena.
Galaxy Macau and UFC have formed a strategic partnership to stage three UFC FIGHT NIGHT® events over four years, beginning in 2026. The collaboration will enhance Macau’s appeal as a destination while promoting the integration of sports and tourism in the city. (From right) Mr. Dana White, UFC CEO and President, and Mr. Kevin Kelley, Chief Operating Officer – Macau of Galaxy Entertainment Group, celebrated the reaching of the agreement.
Mr. Kevin Kelley, Chief Operating Officer – Macau of Galaxy Entertainment Group, said: “We’re thrilled to partner with UFC, the world’s largest MMA promotion entity, to bring world-class fight nights to Galaxy Arena. This partnership reflects our ongoing support for the Macao SAR Government’s vision to integrate tourism and sports. MMA fans in Macau will now have the chance to witness top-tier action right here at home, while visitors can enjoy the city’s rich culture, cuisine, and entertainment alongside unforgettable fight experiences.”
Mr. Dana White, UFC President and CEO, said: “I’ve just returned from China and everything about it was incredible – the culture, the people and the athletes. This new partnership with Galaxy Macau couldn’t come at a better time. It’s great for fight fans in China and massive for the sport.”
Mr. Kevin Chang, UFC Senior Vice President and Head of Asia, said: “In 2026, Macau will be the launchpad to UFC in Asia. Building on our wildly successful 2024 event, this long-term partnership with Galaxy Macau solidifies our commitment to this region and its passionate fans. Together, we will deliver the pinnacle of mixed martial arts and cultivate the next generation of talent, right here from the heart of Macau.”
UFC is the premier promoter of MMA, a thrilling full-contact combat sport that blends techniques from multiple disciplines. Galaxy Macau’s landmark strategic partnership with UFC will further energize the appetite for global sports and grow MMA fanbase in Macau and the region.
In 2024, Galaxy Macau proudly welcomed UFC back to Macau SAR for the first time in a decade with a sold-out UFC FIGHT NIGHT® featuring many of the sport’s biggest stars from China, Asia, and around the world. The event drew an audience of 12,000, underscoring the popularity of UFC and its power to attract a global live audience. With this new strategic partnership, Macau is poised to further elevate its profile as a destination for world-class sports entertainment, contributing to the city’s continued economic diversification.
The new Strategic Partnership between Galaxy Macau and UFC signifies the return of the latter to Macau following a remarkable UFC® FIGHT NIGHT MACAU held at the esteemed Galaxy Arena in 2024.
For more information, please follow Galaxy Macau’s social media platforms and visit www.galaxymacau.com.
The state-of-the-art Galaxy Arena will be home to three thrilling UFC FIGHT NIGHT® events over a course of four years under a new Strategic Partnership Agreement between Galaxy Macau and UFC.
HONG KONG SAR – EQS Newswire – 4 September 2025 – Cross-border e-commerce service platform Gwofy has launched a new on-chain receivables verification solution. Through merchant-authorized APIs, the platform integrates sales, fulfillment, and expense data, packaging it on-chain in real time to create records that are transparent, auditable, and tamper-proof. The system is designed to serve as a trusted data bridge between tens of thousands of merchants and financial institutions, helping sellers ease cash-flow pressures while enabling lenders to make informed credit and risk assessments based on verified data.
The global cross-border e-commerce market now exceeds $500 billion annually, with Chinese merchants holding a dominant share. Yet behind the scale, sellers face mounting financial strain: settlement cycles often stretch 60 to 90 days, 30% of merchants report profit margins under 10%, and annual capital turnover averages only four times—far below the level needed to support sustained growth. Seasonal inventory and warehousing costs add further stress, leaving many merchants vulnerable to liquidity crunches. Crucially, the lack of transparency and real-time verification means financial institutions lack the confidence to step in.
Gwofy’s on-chain receivables verification is designed to address these pain points:
For merchants, receivables recorded instantly on-chain can be quickly verified, reducing uncertainty around settlement and improving cash flow.
For financial partners, the records provide a transparent, traceable, and tamper-proof foundation to reduce information asymmetry in credit and risk decisions.
Rather than creating new financial derivatives, Gwofy provides data certificates that enable institutions to rely directly on verified trade data to support merchants.
Alignment with industry outlook and standards Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ), speaking at the University of Hong Kong on August 28, highlighted that the real potential of real-world assets (RWA) lies in bringing financial assets such as stocks and bonds on-chain, given their stable value and clear legal ownership. Accounts receivable—directly anchored to sales and settlement—naturally fall within this category. By digitizing and verifying receivables on-chain, Gwofy advances this vision.
The Hong Kong Blockchain Association’s “RWA Industry Development Report 2025” similarly states that assets with large-scale potential must meet three criteria:
Stable Value — Receivables are directly tied to actual sales and platform settlements, avoiding speculative valuation.
Clear Legal Certainty — Each claim is traceable to specific orders and settlements, with well-defined ownership.
Verifiable Off-Chain Data — With merchant authorization, Gwofy synchronizes operational data in real time, recording it on-chain to ensure transparency.
Gwofy’s design both echoes CZ’s forward-looking view and aligns fully with the industry standards outlined in the report, offering a recognized pathway for digitizing and verifying receivables.
Looking Ahead Gwofy’s mission is not to package receivables as financial products, but to build infrastructure for on-chain data verification and certainty. The company will continue to apply blockchain to enhance transparency and auditability, enabling financial institutions to build risk models on verified data while helping cross-border merchants ease cash-flow bottlenecks and improve turnover efficiency.
Gwofy’s mission: Anchor in real trade, make receivables verifiable.
https://hk.gwofy.com/
Hashtag: #Gwofy
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 4 September 2025 – The 4th Aranya·Xiami Music & Arts Festival, a collaborative production between Xiami Music Entertainment and Aranya, successfully took place from August 27 to 31, 2025 at the Aranya seaside, under the theme “Another Life.”
Set against the backdrop of Aranya’s distinctive costal community, the festival offered an immersive blend of music, art, and resort living, creating a unique holiday experience. More than 40 artists — including Karen Mok, Liang Bo, Omnipotent Youth Society, LANY, and Battles — performed across multiple stages. The event featured the Chinese mainland festival debuts of several international bands, alongside a vibrant intergenerational showcase of Chinese musical talent, delivering what organizers described as a “musical adventure.”
This year marked a significant evolution in the festival’s format. The duration was extended from three to five days, aligning more closely with holiday patterns and meeting audience expectations for a combined “music and vacation” Experience. The number of performance stages increased from two to three, with the addition of the new “Outing Stage” designed to accommodate folk, improvisational, and other niche musical genres, further enriching the festival’s artistic diversity.
The 2025 Aranya·Xiami Music & Arts Festival continued to uphold Xiami’s distinctive aesthetic vision —authentic, uncompromising, and creatively bold — while embracing a global outlook and delivering fresh, memorable experiences. This year’s line-up featured 11 international acts from six countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, Thailand, and Denmark. Artists such as LANY, Battles, Rialto, The Raveonettes, VTOROI KA, and TOKYO GROOVE JYOSHI made their Chinese mainland festival debuts, offering audiences exclusive “first-time encounter” performances.
Notably, several of these bands — as among them LANY and Battles — have previously appeared at globally renowned festivals including Lollapalooza, Coachella, Summer Sonic, and Fuji Rock, earning widespread internal acclaim. At Aranya, LANY delivered a romantically charged and emotionally resonant set, while Battles captivated audiences with their avant-garde energy and dynamic stage presence.
The Chinese line-up at this year’s festival was equally distinguished, offering a “premiere-level” experience that resonated across generations. It featured a compelling mix of celebrated mainstream artists and critically acclaimed indie bands, delivering a seamless fusion of musical excellence and captivating live performances.
Karen Mok & The Masters made their major festival debut, unveiling the new track Beget alongside timeless favorites such as Empty World and He Loves Me Not, leaving the audiences deeply moved. Omnipotent Youth Society headlined the Qixi Festival (Chinese Valentine’s Day) Rock Session, performing their full album Inside the Cable Temple for the first time at the festival. With its rich narrative, intricate detail, and the iconic melody of Qinhuangdao, the performance was widely regarded as one of the festival’s most memorable musical moments.
Artists and bands including Liang Bo, Wu Qingfeng, Rainbow Chamber Singers, Yoga Lin, Mavis Fan & 100% Band, Nova Heart, Erguna Band, Woo Yeah, and Pan delivered standout performances of their signature tracks. Spanning genres from rock and pop to jazz and electronic, this rich musical diversity further underscored Xiami’s distinctive aesthetic and curatorial vision.
As one of China’s most prominent resort-based music festivals, the Aranya·Xiami Music & Arts Festival continues to redefine the boundaries of traditional stage performance. By seamlessly integrating music, visual art, and community culture, the festival offers a multidimensional entertainment experience. Beyond the musical line-up, this year’s edition placed greater emphasis on artistic and community engagement, featuring trend-led exhibitions, large-sale installations, and improvisational interactions. These elements significantly broadened the festival’s content offering, transforming the venue into an immersive, participatory cultural space.
Sustainability remains a core pillar of the Aranya·Xiami Music & Arts Festival. In 2025, the festival deepened its collaboration with Ant Forest to enhance its environmental impact, attracting over 1.24 million participants to its carbon neutrality initiatives. Through comprehensive measures — from production to on-site execution — the festival achieved full-chain carbon neutrality, advancing its vision of becoming “China’s Zero-Carbon Music Festival.” On-site efforts such as waste sorting, beach clean-ups, and marine conservation further translated the concept of “green performance” into tangible action, setting a new benchmark for sustainability within the festival industry.
Hashtag: #DamaiEntertainment
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Please attribute to Senior Sergeant Fiona Roberts, Area Response Manager, Wānaka, Southern District.
Southern District Police are investigating a serious crash in Wānaka and are seeking witnesses.
Police responded to a crash on Cardrona Valley Road, around 4pm Wednesday 4 September.
We would like to speak with anyone who saw the accident, or witnessed the manner of driving prior to the crash.
If you have any information that could assist Police, please contact us via 105, either over the phone or online. Reference file number 250904/6697.
Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555111.
Police appreciate the patience shown by motorists caught up in the road closures.
The road is reduced to one lane this afternoon so further enquiries can take place.
It is important we all continue to do everything we can to prevent lives being lost on our roads.
We urge motorists to ensure everyone in your vehicle is safely restrained, drive at a safe speed for the conditions under the posted speed limit, put your cell phone away, and ensure you’re free of fatigue, alcohol and drugs.
For people that live near or travel along Cambridge Road, some temporary disruptions are on the way during the school holidays later this month as part of the State Highway 29 (SH29) Tauriko Enabling Works project.
Work is underway on a major retaining wall at the intersection of SH29 and Cambridge Road. This is in preparation for a new, safer intersection with traffic lights, a key upgrade that will also include a new connection to Whiore Avenue for buses and people walking and cycling wanting to access Tauriko Business Estate.
Darryl Coalter, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) Acting Regional Manager Infrastructure Delivery says that great progress is already being made.
“We’ve already moved the power lines underground and we’re now ready to switch them on and remove the old lines and poles.
“To do this safely, there will be a short power outage and temporary lane closures. We’ve timed this work to happen during the school holidays to minimise overall disruption to the travelling public.”
Power outage and right-turn bay closure – Monday 22 September, 9am to 4pm
To switch on new underground power cables, a power outage is planned for both Cambridge Road and SH29. Affected customers will be notified by their power providers. During this time, temporary traffic management will include:
Cambridge Road – stop/go and a 30km/h speed limit.
Cambridge Road to SH29 – closure of the right-turn bay. Hamilton-bound traffic must turn left onto SH29, then use the SH29/SH36 roundabout to change direction.
SH29 – a lane shift and shoulder closure (westbound towards Hamilton).
60km/h speed limit on all approaches to the work site.
All eastbound traffic (towards Tauranga/Bethlehem via Cambridge Road) will be maintained.
Cambridge Road lane closure – Sunday 28 September, 9am to 4pm
A closure of a section of the northbound lane (heading to Bethlehem) on Cambridge Road is also needed to safely remove the old power poles and lines on Cambridge Road and SH29. No power outage is required.
The lane closure includes a short section of road from the intersection with SH29 to 559 Cambridge Road. People should be prepared for moderate disruption. During this time, temporary traffic management will include:
SH29/Cambridge Road intersection to Bethlehem Town Centre – detour routes for Bethlehem-bound traffic are expected to take approximately 15 minutes via SH29 Takitimu Drive Toll Road (toll applies), and approximately 22 minutes via SH29A and Cameron Road (free route).
Cambridge Road residents – access from SH29 will be via the detours. We acknowledge the inconvenience and are committed to completing this work as quickly as possible.
The southbound lane on Cambridge Road heading towards SH29 will remain open.
Shoulder closures and mobile operations on SH29, with SH29 traffic maintained in both directions.
Covering period of Thu 04 – Mon 08 September – West-northwest breezes and passing cloud for the final two days of Zespri AIMS games in Tauranga Auckland starts off wet on Saturday but come kick off there’s just a risk of brief rain with chilly southwest winds Father’s Day is a bit of a mixed bag; some rain spreads up the country with southwesterly winds A blood moon is due in the western sky around 6am on Monday morning
MetService has issued a number of Severe Weather Forecasts for strong northwest winds and heavy rain as an active frontal system moves up the country while the working week winds down.
The most likely severe weather is about the Canterbury High Country and headwaters with Orange Warnings for northwest winds and heavy rain, but there’s several Watches for Heavy Rain and Strong winds around the country.
The heavy rain has kicked off for the west coast of the South Island today (Thursday) with a few thunderstorms making it on land around Fiordland and southern Westland. Western areas are most at risk of rain today but as we head into Friday the wet weather extends northward with Wellington seeing passing showers through the day and the main frontal rain band arriving at night.
Thunderstorms are forecast to mostly remain around southern and western parts of the South Island, however, some may sneak across the alps into the likes of Queenstown Lakes. The thunderstorms bring risk of hail, blustery winds and potential snow down to around 400m.
MetService meteorologist Lewis Ferris warns, “Much of the North Island will wake up to rain on Saturday but it will be tending drier as the front keeps on trucking away to the northeast. There’s not much reprieve though – a cool southwest change moves onto Southland Saturday evening and zips up the country. It might be breakfast in bed rather than a round of golf for Dad on Sunday.”
Northwest winds make for some warm temperatures in eastern areas today and tomorrow. These highs are short lived as the southwest winds remind us that spring is a time of yoyoing temperatures. Christchurch is going for 18°C on Friday and 11°C on Saturday.
A brief ridge of high pressure is forecast across the country on Monday morning so there’s a good chance for many to spot the blood moon.
Understanding MetService Severe Weather Warning System
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings (Localised Red Warning) – take cover now:
This warning is a red warning for a localised area. When extremely severe weather is occurring or will do within the hour. Severe thunderstorms have the ability to have significant impacts for an area indicated in the warning. In the event of a Severe Thunderstorm Red Warning: Act now!
Red Warnings are about taking immediate action:
When extremely severe weather is imminent or is occurring Issued when an event is expected to be among the worst that we get – it will have significant impact and it is possible that a lot of people will be affected In the event of a Red Warning: Act now!
Orange Warnings are about taking action:
When severe weather is imminent or is occurring Typically issued 1 – 3 days in advance of potential severe weather In the event of an Orange Warning: Take action.
Thunderstorm Watch means thunderstorms are possible, be alert and consider action
Show the area that thunderstorms are most likely to occur during the validity period. Although thunderstorms are often localised, the whole area is on watch as it is difficult to know exactly where the severe thunderstorm will occur within the mapped area. During a thunderstorm Watch: Stay alert and take action if necessary.
Watches are about being alert:
When severe weather is possible, but not sufficiently imminent or certain for a warning to be issued Typically issued 1 – 3 days in advance of potential severe weather. During a Watch: Stay alert
Outlooks are about looking ahead:
To provide advanced information on possible future Watches and/or Warnings Issued routinely once or twice a day Recommendation: Plan.
