Source: New Zealand Police
Search and rescue team looking for missing man John (Johnny) Mohi have found a body in Maketu this evening.
While the formal identification of the body is still to be completed the search and rescue operation for Mr Mohi has been put on hold.
Police offer their sympathies to the friends and whanau of Mr Mohi at this sad time.
Police would like to thank the community and volunteers who supported the search.
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Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: New Zealand Police
Statement attributable to Constable Wayne McClelland
Two Canterbury men have been arrested in Riverton this afternoon following a series of car thefts and petrol drive offs between Christchurch and Invercargill.
The two offenders are alleged to have stolen a vehicle in Wigram Christchurch on 14 February. They have then been involved in a number of petrol drive offs on their travels to Invercargill.
Police attempted to stop the vehicle in Invercargill shortly after 8pm however the driver failed to stop and while Police followed for a short time this was quickly abandoned due to the erratic driving of the fleeing driver.
The vehicle the two offenders were fleeing in was recovered a short time later however the offenders had fled on foot.
At around 1.30pm this afternoon a stolen vehicle was spotted by Police travelling north near Mataura. Police believed the two people in the vehicle were the same men that had fled the previous night.
Police again followed the vehicle for a time before abandoning due to the nature of the driving. Observations on the vehicle were lost however an off duty fire officer has noticed the vehicle and shared the location allowing Police to find the vehicle again south on Winton. After being located by Police the driver has fled once again.
The fleeing vehicle was seen again, this time in the Wallacetown area, Police followed the vehicle again at a safe distance and despite trying to get away the vehicle was stopped trying to leave Riverton.
The two men, one aged 17 and the other 18, have been arrested and will be appearing in Invercargill District Court on Monday facing a number of theft and driving charges.
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Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: National Party
National MPs Todd McClay and Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi have condemned the recent terrorist attack in India.
“We are deeply saddened by this senseless terror attack in Pulwama, India, in which more than 30 Indian Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed,” Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi says.
“Our hearts go out to families of the brave soldiers who lost their lives today”
“We strongly condemn this terror attack in the strongest possible terms and appeal to authorities to bring those responsible for this crime to justice,” Mr McClay says.
Source: New Zealand Police
Police are treating the death of a woman whose body was found in Whairepo Lagoon, near Frank Kitts Park today as unexplained.
Police were called to the lagoon at 10.55am.
Enquiries into the circumstances of the woman’s death are continuing as Police work with witnesses and advising next-of-kin.
A local Kaumatua performed a blessing of the Whairepo Lagoon scene at 4pm and Police are likely to stand-down from that area shortly.
No further information is available at this stage.
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Issued by Police Media Centre.
Source: New Zealand Police
Statement attributable to Acting Detective Sergeant Michael Handley
Waikato Police are looking for Weston Smith who may be able to assist with inquiries into an assault in Fairview Downs, Hamilton this morning.
Police were called to the assault on Hendon Road shortly after 11.30am. One person received moderate injuries in the assault.
As part of the ongoing inquiries into the incident Police would like to speak with 34-year-old Weston Smith. He is of medium build and is 177cm in height and has tattoos on his neck and hands.
If you have seen Smith or know of his whereabouts please contact Hamilton Police on 07 858 6200. Information can also be shared anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: New Zealand Police
Police executed a search warrant in relation to illegal drugs, in the Te Poi area, south of Matamata at a rural address on Friday 15 February.
Detective Senior Sergeant Steve Ambler, Waikato Eastern Area Criminal Investigations Manager, said large quantities of drugs including more than a kilo of dried cannabis plant material, methamphetamine and cannabis oil was found.
Police also located in small quantities LSD, ecstasy and assorted other class A controlled drugs and prescription medicines.
A significant amount of cash was seized along with an array of firearms and ammunition including a .22 rifle, two shotguns and various high powered hunting rifles and a M4 military style semi-automatic rifle.
A total of nine rifles were seized from the address. Cannabis was also recovered growing at the address in various indoor concealed cabinets as well as outdoors.
“Again, we would like to thank the community for noticing suspicious activity,” says Detective Senior Sergeant Steve Ambler.
“I am also proud of the hard work our Police teams are doing in our attempts to eradicate illegal drugs from our society.”
“This is a significant result again for our teams here in Waikato and we are committed to reducing the supply of drugs and reducing criminal offending.”
A main aim of the operation was to help the Waikato community feel safe and that police are hopeful the operation will have a positive effect in reducing drug related harm in the community.
“The impact of any ongoing supply of methamphetamine on a community results in huge social harm, negative health implications and financial harm, particularly to drug users and their families.”
“We want to help people get away from the cycle of drug addiction and we urge them to seek assistance from Police or the many social agencies available for help.”
“Anyone who wishes to give information anonymously about criminal activity can do so by ringing Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
A 34-year-old male has been arrested on serious drug and firearm offences and is due to reappear in court on the 18 February 2019.
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Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: Ministry for Primary Industries
Date:
Media contact: MPI Media team
A large field operation is underway in the Auckland suburb of Devonport following the discovery of one male Queensland fruit fly in a surveillance trap in the area.
The task at hand is to determine if the fly is a solitary find, or if it is part of an incursion in the area.
If it established here, the Queensland fruit fly could seriously harm the country’s fruit and vegetable crops and affect exports of some produce. If a population is found, work will progress to eradicate it.
To date, no further signs of fruit flies have been found.
The immediate focus is setting further fruit fly traps in the affected area. If fruit flies are present, these traps will catch them. Ultimately there will be approximately 150 traps installed in the priority part of the suburb within 200m of where the fruit fly was trapped. Further traps will also be added in the 1.5 km radius from the find. These are in addition to the 7600 surveillance traps for fruit flies deployed nationally.
In addition, field teams are visiting local properties, checking for fruit trees, vegetable gardens and compost facilities that could provide suitable habitat for fruit flies.
Fruit and vegetable samples will be taken from home gardens to check for fruit fly contamination.
A legal Controlled Area has been declared over the suburb, restricting the movement of certain fruit and vegetables from the area.
Full details of the Controlled Area and movement controls
This is a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of any fruit flies from the area, if there is a population there.
People in Devonport are asked to report any suspected sightings of the Queensland fruit fly or the discovery of insect eggs or larvae inside fruit or vegetables to: 0800 80 99 66. Photos of the insect are on the Biosecurity New Zealand website.
The fruit fly response at a glance:
Further information, visit: www.biosecurity.govt.nz/fruitfly
Source: New Zealand Police
The body of a woman has been found in Whairepo Lagoon, near Frank Kitts Park, Wellington.
Police were called to the lagoon at 10.55am.
Enquiries into the circumstances of the woman’s death are under way.
No further information is available at this stage.
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Issued by Police Media Centre.
Source: New Zealand Government
The Minister for Climate Change has congratulated The Warehouse Group on achieving carboNZero certification.
“The Warehouse Group officially becoming net carbon neutral is a great achievement and I welcome the Group’s commitment and contribution towards reducing New Zealand’s greenhouse emissions,” James Shaw said.
“Achievements like this, and the leadership being shown by other members of the Climate Leaders Coalition, together with the Farming Leaders Group, iwi, and others is vital if we are to become a carbon neutral economy by 2050.
“We are already feeling the effects of climate change, such as fires, floods, droughts and storms.
“More and more New Zealanders are concerned about what we could face in the future if we don’t take serious action to limit global warming.
“That’s having a growing influence on people’s decisions across a range of activities. Businesses are aware that they need to be in sync with the increasing consumer awareness about climate change.
“Our window of opportunity to limit the effects of climate change is closing but we still have time – if we act now.
“So I congratulate all those New Zealanders; individuals, communities and organisations who are doing what they can do to help us on the path to carbon neutrality.
“It helps keep me, as Climate Change Minister, and the Government focused on providing the institutional and legal framework through the Zero Carbon Bill to be passed into law this year,” Mr Shaw said.
Source: New Zealand Police
Police staff and Defence Force personnel will be staffing the cordons in the fire affected areas today.
While we understand residents in the fire affected areas who remain evacuated will be frustrated by the decision today to cancel restricted access and postpone conditional re-entry for the remaining Pigeon Valley Road (including Sharps Road) residents, the decision has been made for the safety of everyone involved.
Please do not visit the cordons today to try and gain access as this will not be possible.
To residents of the Valleys who have returned on a conditional re-entry basis – please remain alert. You are in a ‘prepare to evacuate’ zone and need to be ready to go should the decision be made to evacuate.
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Issued by Police Media Centre.