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Source: New Zealand Police (District News)
To be attributed to Inspector Simon Feltham, Marlborough Area Commander:
A 44-year-old man is facing numerous charges following an incident at a Park Terrace house in Blenheim.
The man has been charged with threatening to kill, discharging a firearm to intimidate, abducting a child under 16, and contravening a protection order.
He is scheduled to appear in Blenheim District Court on Monday 23 December.
ENDS
Issued by the Police Media Centre
Source: New Zealand Police (National News)
The woman and her two children reported missing earlier today in Christchurch have been located and are safe.
Police would like to thank everyone who shared our social media post, which assisted in locating them.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre.
Source: New Zealand Police (National News)
Christchurch Police are appealing for sightings of Tennessee Gemmell and her two children.
Tennessee was last seen walking with Angus (6) and Arohadeep (5) on Hoani Street in Papanui today.
They were headed in the direction of the Mitre10 Megastore.
Angus was wearing orange shorts and a light-coloured top.
Arohadeep is wearing light-coloured tights and a bright-coloured top.
Police have concerns for the welfare of Tennessee and her children and want to hear from anyone who may have information which could help us locate them.
If you can help, please contact 105 and reference event number P061023866.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre.
Source: New Zealand Police (District News)
A person has died following a single vehicle crash in Horeke this morning.
Emergency services were called to State Highway One, near Rangiahua Road at around 9.20am.
Sadly, one person died at the scene.
One other person was transported to hospital in a critical condition.
The Serious Crash Unit has completed a scene examination, and the road is now clear.
Enquiries into the crash are ongoing.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: New Zealand Police (District News)
Kihikihi Road/SH3 is closed following a serious crash in Te Awamutu this afternoon.
Emergency services were called to the two-vehicle crash at around 4.20pm.
Two people are in a critical condition, two people have serious injuries, and four have moderate injuries.
The road is closed while the Serious Crash Unit is conducting a scene examination.
Motorists are advised to follow the diversions in place and to expect delays.
ENDS
Source: New Zealand Police (National News)
To be attributed to Inspector Simon Feltham, Marlborough Area Commander:
A 44-year-old man has been taken into custody at a Park Terrace house in Blenheim, following a family harm-related incident at the address.
The man was arrested at around 4.35pm, and a baby that was inside the house with the man has been recovered safely and is uninjured.
The Police Negotiation Team has been at the address since last night, engaging with the man while he remained inside the house with the baby.
Police’s focus has been the welfare of resolving the incident safely for all concerned and we are very pleased that has now been achieved.
Police have also deployed tactical staff and other staff to achieve this outcome, and we’ve been supported by the New Zealand Defence Force.
Neighbours of the address who were asked to stay in temporary accommodation last night will be able to return to their homes this evening.
We thank them and the wider community for their patience and cooperation through what we know has been an extremely unsettling situation.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre.
Source: New Zealand Police (National News)
One person has died following a workplace incident at a Southbridge property this morning.
Emergency services were called to Glasseys Road around 11.30am.
WorkSafe has been advised.
Enquiries into the circumstances of the death are ongoing.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: New Zealand Police (National News)
Four people have been arrested and approximately 200kg of methamphetamine has been seized following a joint investigation between New Zealand Police and the New Zealand Customs Service.
Critically, an insider threat at the Port of Tauranga has also been identified and removed.
Customs officers became aware of a suspicious concealment on 11 December after a routine x-ray of a container at the port.
At about 3pm two men entered a restricted area and forced entry into the container. Police were alerted as the men loaded the suitcases into their car.
The vehicle left the port driving recklessly and at speed through heavy traffic on the East Link Toll Road towards Whakatāne.
Bay of Plenty District Police were able to stop the vehicle using road spikes on the toll road.
The occupants fled on foot but were apprehended a short distance from the vehicle.
Police recovered the five suitcases in the vehicle, along with other tools linked to the burglary.
The two men, both aged 28, have been charged with burglary, possession of methamphetamine for supply, failing to carry out obligations in relation to a computer search, and possession of instruments for burglary.
They have been remanded in custody and will appear in the Tauranga District Court, one on 20 January 2025, and the second on 7 March 2025.
On Wednesday 18 December, search warrants were executed at various locations around the Western Bay of Plenty, and a further two people were arrested in relation to the matter.
The two men, aged 33 and 36, have been charged with a number of offences, including importation of methamphetamine. Both appeared in the Tauranga District Court on Thursday 19 December.
It is believed members of this criminal operation may have been operating from within the port for some time.
The four arrested men all have associations with the Mongrel Mob, Comancheros and the Filthy Few.
Detective Inspector Albie Alexander of the National Organised Crime Group says this seizure will make a significant dent into the supply of methamphetamine in the Western Bay of Plenty.
“Even more significantly, we believe we have now shut down an insider threat at the port, and enquiries into this aspect will continue.”
It’s estimated the 200kg of methamphetamine equates to 10 million doses and its seizure has prevented up to $209.5m of social harm to the New Zealand economy.
While the retail value of 10 million doses may be as high as $75m, the wholesale value of the drugs is estimated to be between $14m and $32m.
“This illustrates another example of the continuing cooperation and strong partnerships we have with Customs and our local and domestic partners in targeting criminal activity at our borders and in the community,” says Detective Inspector Alexander.
Customs Investigations Manager Dominic Adams says that New Zealand continues to be an attractive market for organised criminal groups to smuggle drugs including methamphetamine and cocaine, as well as illicit tobacco.
Customs is seeing an increase in legitimate imports being targeted by overseas criminal groups who conceal illicit drugs within freight containers or container contents, which are later recovered by New Zealand-based criminals. This can involve attempted break-ins to collect the drugs.
“We know that criminal groups attempt to circumvent border and port security processes to intercept drugs. We work closely with port companies, their security teams and our Police colleagues to ensure people who intentionally attempt to breach port security measures are identified and apprehended. Our increased port and maritime presence is helping us face this threat,” Mr Adams says.
“Criminal infiltration of the supply chain is common overseas, and it is a threat that all supply chain businesses including port companies should be alert to. The Customs Border Protect team has a range of resources to support businesses to identify and report criminal infiltration in the supply chain.”
To report suspicious activity, call 0800 WE PROTECT (0800 937 768) confidentially or call CrimeStoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. For more information, visit www.customs.govt.nz/report.
ENDS
Issued by the Police Media Centre
Source: New Zealand Police (National News)
Attribute to Marlborough Area Commander Inspector Simon Feltham
Police remain near a residential address in Blenheim this morning following a family harm-related incident.
Police were called to a house on Park Terrace about 5.10pm yesterday, after a man carrying a firearm arrived at the address, where he is known.
Two occupants were inside at the time, and one was able to get to safety. The other person remains inside the property with the man.
The Police Negotiation Team is at the scene and no injuries have been reported. We are focused on the welfare of both people inside the address and are working hard to resolve this peacefully.
As a precaution, neighbours of the address were asked to stay in temporary accommodation last night, and we are keeping them informed of developments.
The incident is confined to the address and there is no risk to the wider community. A section of Park Terrace is cordoned off and we ask that people avoid the area.
Information will be released proactively, when we are in a position to do so.
ENDS
Issued by the Police Media Centre
Source: New Zealand Police (District News)
State Highway One is closed following a serious crash in Horeke this morning.
Emergency services were alerted to the single vehicle crash on State Highway One near Rangiahua Road at around 9.20am.
Initial indications suggest there are serious injuries.
The Serious Crash Unit has been advised.
The road is closed, and diversions are in place.
Motorists are advised to avoid the area and expect delays.
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