Serious crash, State Highway 1, Pairere

Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

A serious two-vehicle crash has shut State Highway 1 at Pairere in South Waikato this morning.

Emergency services were alerted to the crash, about 5.30am. Five people are reported to have serious injuries

State Highway 1 is blocked between Horahora Road and Paparamu Road and traffic management is being arranged.

Motorists are advised to expect delays.

ENDS

Issued by the Police Media Centre

Serious crash Appleby highway, SH60 Tasman District

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

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A serous crash involving two vehicles on SH60 near Redwood Road, Appleby Highway, has closed the highway mid this afternoon.

This will affect anyone travelling between Golden Bay or Motueka/Kaiteriteri and Richmond/Nelson today, or Mapua and Ruby Bay.

Police are attending and people are encouraged to delay travel through this area, says NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA).

SH60 between Moutere Valley Highway at Pea Viner Corner and Dominion Road has been closed to allow emergency services to clear the scene.

Closure points

  • SH60 Coastal Highway and Dominion Road
  • SH6 Appleby Highway and Moutere Highway intersection.

Detour routes

  • Nelson to Motueka bound road users please detour via Moutere Valley Highway (Pea Viner corner)
  • Motueka to Nelson bound road users please detour via Dominion Road, through to the Moutere Highway.

Road users are advised to not travel if they do not have to. 

Next update: 6pm or as the situation changes.

Traffic and travel pages(external link)

View larger map [PNG, 200 KB]

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Postponement of SH2 Masterton to Carterton resurfacing due to cold temperatures

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

Resurfacing works planned for the week starting Sunday, 12 January on SH2 between Masterton and Carterton have been postponed due to the unusually cold temperatures we have been experiencing.

Works will be planned as soon as ground temperatures allow us to complete the surface work without compromising quality,” says Roxanne Hilliard, Wellington Alliance Manager for NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA).

Night-time road closures will detour onto Cornwall Road and the Hughes Line. (See map below). A further update will be provided once the weather has improved, and new dates have been confirmed. 

These particular works cannot be carried out in colder ground temperatures as it would affect the quality of the surfacing. NZTA requires overnight ground temperatures to be at or above 15 degrees for this work.

Road users are encouraged to check for updates on the highway’s status on the NZTA website once this work gets underway:

Highway conditions – Wellington(external link)

SH2 Masterton to Carterton detour route once resurfacing work gets underway.

Earlier media release: State Highway 2 Masterton to Carterton – urgent road repairs planned before Christmas

Funeral for Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming confirmed

Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

Beloved police officer, Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming will be farewelled with a special funeral service to be held at 1pm on Thursday 16 January at the Trafalgar Centre in Nelson.

With the blessing of her family the funeral service for Senior Sergeant Fleming will be conducted with full Police honours. The 38-year veteran died after she and a colleague were struck by a vehicle in central Nelson in the early hours of New Year’s Day.

Senior Sergeant Fleming’s family has been overwhelmed by the love and support they have received from the Nelson community and across New Zealand and they are very grateful. They have agreed to share her farewell with our communities and as such it will be live streamed.

Police Commissioner Richard Chambers says that Police is honoured to be able to offer a Police funeral for Senior Sergeant Fleming.

“This is something I wish we didn’t have to plan for, but I am grateful to Lyn’s family for allowing her Police family to be an integral part of her final farewell.

“Lyn has made the ultimate sacrifice as a police officer, so it is appropriate we honour her with a formal Police funeral. My staff have already commenced planning with Lyn’s family, and I want to ensure we are able to support Lyn’s family in providing a fitting tribute for her.”

Senior Sergeant Fleming’s Police funeral will include a motorcade, honour guard, Police piper, and flag presentation to her family.

The funeral will be attended by family, friends, the Police community, and invited guests. Senior Sergeant Fleming’s funeral service will be available to view live on the Police website police.govt.nz

Tasman District Commander, Superintendent Tracey Thompson says that local police are hurting, but have been buoyed by messages of support. “I want to acknowledge the overwhelming response that we’ve had from our community and from around the country. The expressions of grief and condolence and offers of support help give us strength. It’s a reminder, in these sad times, of the reason that we come to work everyday – to serve our communities and work to keep everyone safe.”

Police staff from other districts are providing relief support for Tasman District to allow local staff to attend the funeral.

ENDS

Note for Media:

Further details for media about Senior Sergeant Fleming’s funeral service will be available for media later this week. Please contact Police media team if you intend covering the funeral and wish to receive logistics details when available.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Arrests made following petrol station robbery

Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

A raft of Police resources has rounded up five people believed to have robbed a Karaka service station early this morning.

At about 5.30am, Police were called after five masked people with various weapons (not firearms) entered the petrol station on Harbourside Drive.

Detective Inspector Karen Bright, of Counties Manukau CIB, says staff quickly activated the fog cannon before hiding at the back of the store.

“The group has proceeded to take cash, vapes and cigarettes before fleeing in a stolen vehicle.

“Thankfully no one was injured, however staff are understandably shaken.”

Detective Inspector Bright says the vehicle was located abandoned a short time later in Pitt Avenue, Manurewa.

She says officers then observed two people known to Police in a vehicle, and after a short pursuit both occupants were taken into custody on Boulderwood Place.

“Three other people were also seen by members of the public running through businesses in the area.

“Thanks to the information provided by our community, all three were rounded up by using the Police Eagle helicopter, Delta dog unit and officers on the ground.

“Let this be a reminder that Police will continue to hold to account those who choose to behave like this.

“It’s very lucky no one was injured.”

Detective Inspector Bright says Police continue to encourage the public to call Police straight away on 111 if you see or suspect anything suspicious happening.

Four males, two aged 20 and two Youths aged 15 and 14 will appear in Manukau District Youth Court today charged with aggravated robbery.

Another 18-year-old male has been charged with Failing to Stop.

ENDS

Holly McKay/NZ Police

Serious crash, Coastal Highway, Appleby

Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

Emergency services are at the scene of a serious two-vehicle crash on the Coastal Highway, Appleby, between Maisey and Redwood Roads.

Police were called about 3.15pm.

Initial indications suggest there have been serious injuries.

The road is closed, with diversions in place.

Motorists are asked to avoid the area, or expect delays.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Summer maintenance crews grateful for support from motorists in Auckland

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi would like to thank everyone who travelled on the Auckland motorway network over the summer break for their patience while critical maintenance work was carried out on State Highway 1.

To minimise disruption to road users, NZTA took advantage of lower traffic volumes during the holiday period to replace a bridge joint at Spaghetti Junction and carry out essential maintenance on the Auckland Harbour Bridge.

NZTA Regional Manager of Maintenance and Operations, Jacqui Hori-Hoult says our crews on the ground were grateful to all road users who adhered to traffic management in place and showed respect towards the on-site workers, helping to keep everyone safe.

“We acknowledge the work will have caused disruption and delay and we want to thank all road users who were patient and adhered to the lower speeds and traffic management in place while our roading crews were working to make our roads even more resilient.

“We were able to complete critical work and ensure the safety of our teams within closures on some of the busiest sections of the Auckland motorway network. Road users’ compliance was high which is a fantastic outcome for our roads and for the safety of our workers.”

Further maintenance work is scheduled to begin Sunday 19 January in the port area, on State Highway 16 The Strand. This will include full lane closures during the weekend and lane restrictions on week nights.

For a schedule of the SH16 works, please visit:

SH16 Port area summer works – The Strand, Stanley Street and Gladstone Road

Name release: Fatal crash, SH1, Mangaweka

Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

Police can now confirm the names of the two people who died following a two-vehicle crash in Mangaweka, on Sunday 29 December 2024.

They were 2-year-old Agambir Singh Dhanju, and 38-year-old Sumeet Sumeet both of Auckland.

Police extend our condolences to the family and loved ones of those involved.

Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Arrests made following overnight incidents in Raglan

Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

Attributable to Inspector Andrea McBeth, Hamilton City Area Commander:

Seven young people have been arrested following incidents including antisocial road-user behaviour, attempted theft and a car fire in Raglan last night. 

At around 2:50am, Police responded to reports of a vehicle – believed to be stolen – doing burnouts on Riria Kereopa Memorial Drive. The occupants then reportedly attempted to steal a vehicle from an address on Manukau Road a short time later.

Police from both Western Waikato and Hamilton City responded, locating the vehicles leaving Raglan. The drivers were signalled to stop, however they continued.

No pursuit was initiated, instead Police maintained long-range observations of the vehicles. Tyre-deflation devices were successfully deployed on both vehicles at Main Road and a second time at Mangakino Road/ SH23.

One vehicle was abandoned on Mangakino Road/SH23, and the second vehicle continued to Waitetuna Valley Road where it was abandoned. All occupants were arrested.

A young person is due to appear in the Hamilton Youth Court in due course on charges of unlawfully taking a motor-vehicle, and failing to stop for Police. The remaining six young people have been referred to Youth Services.

In a separate incident a couple of hours later, a vehicle was allegedly set on fire down a bank at Wainui Road, which spread to surrounding scrub. The fire was extinguished later that morning, and enquiries are ongoing to determine if the incidents are linked.

I would like to commend the officers involved in the initial response – it was a well-executed plan by officers from two areas within the Waikato District.

We understand this activity is incredibly frustrating for the community, and we will continue to work hard to identify and arrest those involved. 

If you witness any suspicious activity, please contact Police on 111 if it’s happening now or on 105 either online or over the phone if it is after the fact.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre 

Fire Safety – Prohibited fire season revoked in Wairarapa

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

Fire and Emergency New Zealand is revoking the prohibited fire season put in place in Wairarapa last month, which banned outdoor fires in the area.
From 8am Wednesday 8 January, the southern coastal area, including Aorangi Forest Park and the eastern coast up to Pahaoa, will be in a restricted fire season until further notice.
A restricted fire season means anyone who wants to light an open-air fire will need a fire permit authorised by Fire and Emergency, which can be applied for at www.checkitsalright.nz.
All other areas in Wairarapa – including the valley and up the coast to Mataikona – will be in an open fire season, which means people can light outdoor fires without a permit approved by Fire and Emergency.
Wellington District Community Risk Manager Phil Soal says the recent rainfall and cooler conditions over the last couple of weeks has reduced the risk of wildfire in the area.
“We really appreciate the cooperation we’ve had from people in Wairarapa while fires were banned,” he says.
“We weren’t called out to any major vegetation fires over the holiday break, and we’re very pleased about that.
“However, while people can light fires again, they still need to take sensible precautions – particularly to avoid burning if strong winds are forecast.
“Make sure you have sufficient water or extinguishers to put the fire out properly, and keep checking that it’s out afterwards.
“If you’re not sure which season it is where you are, go to www.checkitsalright.nz to find out, and follow the safety advice provided.”