Source: New Zealand Police (District News)
Police can confirm one person has died following a crash in Inglewood this morning.
The crash involving a pedestrian and a vehicle was reported just after 8am.
Sadly, the pedestrian died at the scene.
The road has since reopened.
Inquiries to determine the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
US climate scientist Professor Alan Robock will deliver a public lecture on 10 February 2025 about the environmental and human impacts of a nuclear winter.
Professor Robock is a distinguished professor of climate science in the Department of Environmental Sciences at Rutgers University in New Jersey, and an expert in climate change, geoengineering, and the climatic effects of nuclear war. (ref. https://people.envsci.rutgers.edu/robock/ )
The lecture will explore the devastating effects of nuclear conflict, and propose policy changes that could reduce the risk of nuclear war and lead to the abolition of nuclear weapons.
Lecture details
5.30–7 pm, Monday 10 February
Lecture Theatre 2
Rutherford House
33 Bunny Street
Pipitea, Wellington.
Source: New Zealand Police (National News)
Attributable to Detective Senior Sergeant Martin Todd, Hutt Valley Area Investigations Manager:
Police are appealing for the publics assistance to identify an associate of a Hutt Valley man, missing for over two months.
28-year-old Tom Basire, was last seen wearing the clothing pictured, walking towards Petone on the stop bank near the Ewen Bridge on Railway Ave, 24 November 2024
Police have been told that Tom would occasionally visit an associate that lives in Petone. No other details of this associate are known, and Police are asking for the public’s help to identify this person.
Last week, Police’s Search and Rescue Team oversaw a search of the Hutt River and riverbank. Police can now advise, no items of interest were located in this search, however, footage which was taken during the search continues to be analysed.
Police have previously advised that it is out of character for Tom to not be in contact with his family, especially missing seeing his family on his birthday in December.
Both Police and Tom’s family have serious concerns for his wellbeing and would like to see him return safely
If you have any information on Tom’s whereabouts or the identity an associate of his from the Petone area, please update us online now or call 105, quoting reference number 241213/6143.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: New Zealand Police (District News)
A man has been charged with murder over a Maungatapere teenager’s death in Otaika last week.
Several search warrants have been carried out over recent days in the homicide investigation into the death of 18-year-old Kyle Jenkins.
Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Shane Pilmer, of Whangārei CIB, says a person of interest was being spoken to as of late yesterday.
Enquiries have culminated in a 20-year-old man being charged in the early hours of the morning.
“This man been charged with Kyle’s murder and will be appearing in the Whangārei District Court today,” he says.
“This is a significant development in our investigation which has progressed rapidly in recent days, along with information that has been coming from public appeals.”
Kyle’s family has been advised of an arrest being made.
“Our thoughts are with his family, as they continue to grieve the loss of a son and prepare for his funeral today,” acting Detective Senior Sergeant Pilmer says.
The investigation team is seeking sightings of a vehicle of interest in the homicide investigation.
That vehicle is a red Daihatsu. It has since been recovered by Police through the course of the investigation.
It is distinctive, with faded red panels on the front driver’s side of the vehicle.
Police are revising the window of interest to investigators.
“We need to hear from anyone who saw this vehicle in the Otaika Valley Road and Mangakahia Road areas on Tuesday 28 January, between 8.15pm and 9.15pm,” acting Detective Senior Sergeant Pilmer says.
“If you have dashcam footage, or can assist with the movements of this vehicle, please contact us.”
The public should expect to see Police deployed back into the area later today.
It will have been a week since Kyle was allegedly murdered.
“Police will be conducting checkpoints in the Otaika Valley Road area tonight, as well as an area canvass as part of our appeal,” acting Detective Senior Sergeant Pilmer says.
An online portal has been set up for any footage or photographs to be uploaded.
Please go to https://distant.nc3.govt.nz
Anyone with further information should call Police on 105 and reference the file number 250129/0335.
Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
ENDS.
Jarred Williamson/NZ Police
Source: ACT Party
The Government has been getting it in both ears over new climate commitments it’s made under the Paris Agreement.
James Shaw and Jacinda Ardern signed us up to impossible targets. Climate Change Minister Simon Watts is trying to make them workable.
As ACT’s Agriculture and Rural Communities spokesman, I’m writing to say: We’ve heard you.
As a signatory to the Paris Agreement, New Zealand is required to sign up to increasingly ambitious emissions targets. That’s what has led to the Climate Change Minister’s latest commitment.
However, ACT has heard serious concern over the economic impact of the Government’s commitment, including costs likely to be lumped on farmers.
Yesterday, the Herald interviewed David Seymour about the Paris Agreement:
We know New Zealand farmers are the most efficient in the world, and it does not make sense to reduce New Zealand food production only to see other less efficient farmers overseas picking up the slack.
In short, ACT is listening, and we encourage you to pass on your concerns to the Climate Change Minister and your local MP.
Meanwhile, ACT’s Ministers in the Government are delivering common sense, affordable policy in key areas that affect farmers such as replacing the handbrake that is the RMA, simplifying freshwater farm plans, and stopping the implementation of last Government’s attack on property rights with their directive on Significant Natural Areas. I’ve also lodged a member’s bill in Parliament’s ballot to stop councils from considering local emissions when granting resource consents.
ACT is determined not to sacrifice farmers and growers at the altar of the climate gods. There is more work to be done to return to common sense, and I hope we’ll have your support.
Source: Department of Conservation
Date: 04 February 2025
So far, 10 chicks have fledged in the wild meaning the tiny juvenile shorebirds have grown strong enough to fly and survive on their own. Crucially, another eight chicks have been successfully hand-raised at Auckland Zoo through DOC’s ongoing partnership with the facility.
Although this is promising progress for tara iti, the breeding season still comes with challenges. DOC staff remain vigilant, keeping an eye out for threats like off-leash dogs, predators, and extreme weather.
With fewer than 40 individual tara iti remaining, every nest, egg, and chick is critical to the survival of the species.
“We’re pleased with how the season is progressing, but there’s still a long way to go.” says DOC Ranger Nikki Hartley.
DOC staff attribute the season’s progress to a combination of management techniques and collaborative conservation efforts, including:
Tara iti now breed at only four key sites north of Auckland: Papakānui Spit, Pākiri Beach, Waipū, and Mangawhai sandspits.
“Auckland Zoo is proud to provide the expert husbandry support to DOC in recovering this rarest of New Zealand’s breeding birds,” says Richard Gibson, Head of Animal Care and Conservation.
“When a species has declined to such a precarious low, intensive management techniques like incubation, hand-rearing and head-starting are critical to helping to significantly increase productivity and hopefully turn the tide of decline to see tara iti flourish once again”.
DOC works closely with partners, including iwi groups Patuharakeke Te Iwi Trust Board, Te Uri o Hau Settlement Trust, Nga Maungawhakahii O Kaipara Development Trust, Ngāti Wai Trust Board, and Ngāti Manuhiri Settlement Trust, Auckland Zoo, The Shorebirds Trust, NZ Fairy Tern Charitable Trust, About Tern, Birds NZ, Tara Iti Golf Club, NZ Nature Fund and local trapping groups.
Generous support for the breeding season has been provided by organisations such as the Shorebirds Trust, Endangered Species Foundation, Pākiri Beach Holiday Park, Auckland Council, Manāki Whitebait, Tongariro National Trout Centre, and New Zealand King Salmon.
Everyone has a role to play in protecting tara iti. Here’s how you can help:
The public can now donate directly to tara iti recovery project.
Over the next five years, the NZ Nature Fund in partnership with DOC is seeking to raise $1.57 million for tara iti conservation from public donors and philanthropists. The funds will be used to accelerate DOC’s tara iti recovery programme and ensure the species survives beyond the next 50 years through a number of initiatives such as:
To donate visit NZ Nature Fund
For media enquiries contact:
Email: media@doc.govt.nz
Source: New Zealand Police (National News)
Northland Police are calling on all motorists to prioritise safety ahead of Waitangi Day commemorations.
In the lead up to Thursday 6 February, Police have been out and about in the community actively ensuring motorists are doing their part in keeping our roads safe.
Northland Road Policing Manager, Inspector Anne-Marie Fitchett, says road users can expect to see our patrols anywhere and at any time to deter everyone from any risky behaviours.
“There are no excuses for any unsafe behaviours on our roads. We want everyone to enjoy the Waitangi celebrations while considering their own safety – and that of others.
“Speeding won’t be tolerated and any excess speeds will be ticketed as required.
“The community can expect to be stopped and tested for impairment at any time. Nobody wants to share the road with someone who is unable to focus clearly.”
Inspector Fitchett says there are already some road closures in place, including:
• Te Karuwha Parade, corner of Puketona Road, SH11 to Tau Henare Drive
• Te Kemara Road, former of Puketona Road, SH11 to Te Karuwha Parade
• Tau Henare Drive, intersection of Baylys Road and Haruru Falls Road
• Haruru Falls Road, off Puketona Road, SH11
“We are also asking people to be mindful of where they are parking and to take others into consideration.
“We simply want everyone to drive with care, stay patient in the event there are roadworks or detours along your journey, and keep alert on our roads.”
For more information on how to get to Waitangi and where to park, got to https://www.fndc.govt.nz/Council/Latest-news/news-items/2025/january/on-…
ENDS.
Holly McKay/NZ Police
Source: New Zealand Police (National News)
A search is ongoing for a man reported missing on a jetski yesterday.
The man left the Tasman District yesterday morning set for Plimmerton, north of Wellington, but did not arrive as expected.
Police and SAR teams have been conducting a water search with the assistance of Coastguard and RCCNZ.
A jetski was located near Cooks Rock in the Cook Strait yesterday evening, believed to be the one belonging to the missing man.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: New Zealand Labour Party
Despite being confronted every day with people in genuine need being stopped from accessing emergency housing – National still won’t commit to building more public houses.
“Chris Bishop is full of it. It is completely heartless and out of touch of him to be comfortable with people sleeping in cars and tents, while he stands up and boasts about saving money,” Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said.
“It’s simple, build more public houses so that people have somewhere to live. Housing is the bare minimum that a person needs to live, and to help turn their life around.
“Chris Bishop has already instructed Kāinga Ora to build fewer houses each year in his letter of expectation, leading to a net loss of houses in Auckland next year, and cut $1.5 billion from building and maintenance costs in last year’s budget.
“If the best that he can come up with is the number of overall homes won’t go backwards, then it shows their priority is cutting spending, not housing people.
“He says a lot of words about how the private sector will step in, yet figures out today from Statistics New Zealand shows overall building consents for new homes are down nearly 10% for 2024.
“Chris Bishop completely missed out the words that matter – a commitment to building more public houses,” Kieran McAnulty said.
Stay in the loop by signing up to our mailing list and following us on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
Source: Green Party
The Green Party says the Government is giving up on growing the country’s public housing stock, despite overwhelming evidence that we need more affordable houses to solve the housing crisis.
“The Government has given up on the housing crisis, using the review into Kāinga Ora to push their privatisation agenda,” says the Green Party spokesperson for Housing Tamatha Paul.
“Public housing is as essential as public healthcare and public education. Housing is a human right that this Government is denying our communities from accessing.
“The housing crisis in Aotearoa is getting worse and worse. Instead of making excuses to allow poverty and homelessness to skyrocket, the Government needs to back Kāinga Ora to build at scale and at pace.
“This Government is deliberately stripping Kāinga Ora to the bare bones, playing straight into the hands of wealthy landlords looking to exploit housing insecurity for private profit. We cannot rely on the private market to solve our problems, we have seen it entrench poverty and homelessness across generations.
“The last Government sold just 276 state houses over six years, but increased public housing supply by over 7,000 homes. With this new direction, Bishop will sell 900 per year. That’s not just opening the door to privatisation, it’s welcoming it in with open arms.
“In the past, our country’s leaders made a conscious decision to house everybody and grow public housing stock at scale. We can make that decision again and we must resist the sale of public housing at all costs because it will have consequences for generations to come.
“Public housing is a crucial part of ensuring we don’t have gentrified, segregated communities, and that our neighbourhoods reflect the make-up of our wider society, culturally and economically.
“Housing is a public good that provides the basis for a stable home for whanau, so that no one is left behind. The Government should be building thousands of new homes,” says Tamatha Paul.
