Author: Press Room

Police say gas califonts are being stolen from building sites and new builds in the north of Auckland to be sold online. A gas califont worked by heating a coil of continuously flowing water with gas. Area Prevention Manager Senior Sergeant Roger Small said Waitematā north police have noticed “an increase in the theft of these units, predominately from homes that are currently under construction”. “These homes are often easy to access as they are not yet properly secured, giving would be thieves an easy entrance.”He said the heating systems were simple to remove, and easy to on sell via…

White powder being sold as an unknown benzodiazepine in the Auckland region has been found to instead contain heroin after a sample was submitted to a drug checking clinic.High Alert issued a warning today, saying people who took the powder believing it to be a benzodiazepine were at risk of experiencing serious harm and death if taken in large doses.It said there was no information available on its prevalence outside of Auckland.”There is a concern that this powder may continue to be sold as a benzodiazepine.”It is important to never assume that what drug you have is what it has…

A blaze on the top floor of a 16-storey building in Auckland’s CBD is under control thanks to the efforts of around 60 firefighters.Emergency services were called to the blaze on Wakefield St at around 12.05pm on Friday.Fire and Emergency NZ said there were 15 fire trucks and around 60 firefighters in attendance at the peak of the fire.”Appliances from Auckland City, Parnell, Grey Lynn, Ellerslie, Mount Roskill, Onehunga, Takapuna, and an aerial appliance from Hamilton responded,” a FENZ spokesperson said.The fire was on the 16th floor, with smoke logging on the 15th floor.Police assisted with road closures and St…

Police are continuing to appeal for sightings of a man missing in Wellington since Monday. Michael was last seen on CCTV at the intersection of Bouverie St and Udy St in Petone at about 2.45pm on May 19, 2025.”Police and Michael’s family are becoming increasingly concerned for his safety,” police said. Images provided by police show the clothing he was wearing at the time of his disappearance. Missing man Michael. (Source: NZ Police )Anyone who was in the Petone or Alicetown areas on the afternoon of May 19 who may have information or may have seen Michael has been asked…

Three teenage girls have been charged following the brutal beating of a girl in Auckland last night that was filmed and posted to social media.The alleged assault occurred in a car park off Station Rd in Papatoetoe. Police were alerted by a nearby business at around 9.45pm.A video posted to Instagram and seen by 1News showed the incident.Captioned with a derogatory term and with music playing in the background, the footage showed three young women taking turns hitting, kicking and punching another woman in an attack that lasts around 50 seconds.The trio can be seen continuing to stomp on and…

The Cook Islands government has declared a dengue fever outbreak in Rarotonga.In a statement on Thursday (Friday NZST), the Health Ministry said two new cases were confirmed, bringing the total number of cases to seven.The Cook Islands government has launched Operation Namu25, which includes community clean-up across Rarotonga tomorrow, vector control and spraying around areas with confirmed cases, and coordination with Pa Enua (outer islands) so they stay dengue-free.Local agencies, including island councils, are working together to support this national effort.The Health Ministry said outer island communities are also preparing their own local response.It said that recent rain and humidity…

An Auckland driver has been arrested after a pellet gun was reportedly fired at another vehicle this afternoon.Police said they were investigating the incident on Beachcroft Ave in Onehunga.A single shot fired from a pellet gun was reportedly fired at another vehicle, cracking the front-left passenger window.”This allegedly followed an episode of tailgating on State Highway 20,” a police spokesperson said.There were no reports of injury.One man has been arrested and police were speaking to a woman in relation to the incident.

ADVERTISEMENTThe leader of an eastern European neo-Nazi group has been extradited to the United States from Moldova following his arrest last summer for allegedly instructing an undercover federal agent to dress as Santa Claus and hand out poisoned candy to Jewish children and racial minorities, prosecutors have said.Michail Chkhikvishvili, a 21-year-old originally from Georgia, was arraigned on Friday before a federal judge in Brooklyn on multiple felonies, including soliciting hate crimes and acts of mass violence.He pleaded not guilty through an attorney, Samuel Gregory, who requested his client receive a psychiatric evaluation and be placed on suicide watch while in custody.Prosecutors…

Former Deputy Commissioner Jevon McSkimming says he “strongly denies” any allegations he acted inappropriately in relation to the vetting process for firearms licences.McSkimming resigned as the country’s second most powerful cop last Monday amid a four-month investigation by the Independent Police Conduct Authority and police.His resignation came after Police Minister Mark Mitchell said he was recently informed of allegations of a “very serious nature”, separate to the investigation that led to him being suspended.Yesterday, RNZ asked police for comment on allegations that McSkimming had interfered with the vetting process for firearms licences.A statement from the office of Police Commissioner Richard…

Finer details of the proposed $200 million Ayrburn Screen Hub, earmarked for fast-track approval, have been leaked ahead of an information evening for the film industry next week. Waterfall Park Developments Ltd has invited a large number of people to the meeting at Ayrburn on Wednesday. The invitation contains construction plans for the hub, which show purpose-built studios and a variety of supporting buildings that would attract productions of varying sizes. The hub can accommodate two or more productions at the same time. The development aimed to be a “one-stop shop flexible screen hub”. The plans show workshops and workrooms…