Author: Press Room

One person has died following a crash involving a vehicle and a bicycle on State Highway 29 in Matamata this morning.Emergency services responded to SH29 near Pond Rd around 10.35am.”The cyclist was located in a critical condition and CPR was commenced, however efforts to resuscitate them were unsuccessful and they died at the scene,” a police spokesperson said. The Serious Crash Unit has conducted a scene examination and inquiries into the circumstances of the crash were ongoing.The road has since reopened.

The provisional number of road deaths in 2024 stands at 289 — the lowest annual road toll in 11 years.Down from 341 in 2023, last year’s road toll was the lowest since 2013 when 253 people died. That year’s road toll was the lowest in more than 60 years.The official Christmas-New Year holiday road toll period began at 4pm on December 24 and lasts until 6am on January 3 — marking one of the busiest travel periods of the year.Police acknowledged the reduction in the annual figure but said that any number of road deaths was too high.Police acknowledged the…

At least three teenagers were knocked unconscious during a “large disorder” incident involving hundreds of young people at a Wānaka park last night.Police were called to Dinosaur Park at around midnight to reports of about 300 young people gathered there with multiple fights breaking out.Around three serious assaults were reported involving young people being knocked unconscious along with numerous other minor assaults.Acting District Commander Inspector Matt Scoles said it was disappointing that many present appeared to have been supplied alcohol.”We know it’s a time of year where lots of people are out celebrating and having a good time.“But we need…

The UNESCO World Heritage Site attracted 90,000 tourists in 2024. ADVERTISEMENTFamous for its stalactites, rare geological formations and cures for asthma, Ballıca Cave in Turkey’s northern Anatolian province of Tokat attracts thousands of visitors every year.Listed on UNESCO’s World Heritage Tentative List, the cave attracted 90,000 tourists during 2024. According to UNESCO, the cave has formed over an estimated time frame of 3.4 million years.The cave’s interior is made up of karstic crystal lime stones, and its stalactites and stalagmites formed over millions of years. It stands as one of Turkey’s largest and most magnificent caves, preserving its mystery with…

A police officer who was critically injured in central Nelson early on New Year’s Day has been confirmed to be in a stable condition by Police Commissioner Richard Chambers this morning.Senior Sergeant Adam Ramsay was struck by a vehicle at around 2.10am while conducting a foot patrol in the Buxton Square carpark alongside his colleague Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming, who later died of her injuries. The vehicle then turned around and rammed a police patrol car, concussing another police officer and injuring two members of the public.A 32-year-old man was arrested at the scene after being tasered by other officers.Senior…

Surf Life Saving rescued 16 people on the first day of the year — marking the start of what it calls the most dangerous month in the water.That number of rescues matched the same time last year.Surf Life Saving worked nearly 5100 hours over the course of New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.On Christmas and Boxing Day, 11 people were also rescued, and 31,000 people were warned of the dangers.Water Safety chief executive Daniel Gerrard said people tended to take more risks at this time of year.Often people’s perception of how competent or confident they were in the water…

A man has been arrested after a person was critically injured south of Auckland in the early hours of this morning.Police responded to the incident at an address on Rorotu Ave in Karaka just after 4am.St John said it responded with one ambulance and two rapid response units.”Our crews assessed and treated one patient who was transported to Middlemore Hospital in a critical condition,” a Hato Hone St John spokesperson said.A 38-year-old man was arrested at the scene without incident, police said.He would appear in the Manukau District Court on Friday on an assault-related charge.”As the matter is now before…

The recovery of fuel from the wreck of the HMNZS Manawanui has begun off the coast of Samoa today.The Navy vessel sank after it ran aground on a coral reef off the coast of Upolu and caught fire on October 6 last year. All 75 crew and passengers were safely evacuated.An interim Court of Inquiry released on November 29 found that the direct cause of the grounding was determined to be a “series of human errors” which meant the ship’s autopilot was not disengaged when it should have been.Remaining in autopilot resulted in the ship maintaining a course toward land…

New Zealand MMA fighter Hakaraia Wilson has died at the age of 26.In a statement, police said they attended the sudden death on the morning of New Year’s Day at an address in Einstein Street, Gisborne.”The death is not suspicious and has been referred to the Coroner.”The deceased was Te Hakaraia O Te Rangi Wilson, aged 26, of Rotorua.”Our condolences to his family at this difficult time.”Te Ao Māori News reported that Wilson was in Gisborne attending the Rhythm and Vines music festival.Wilson had seven professional fights, according to the Fight Matrix website.He had a four-win and three-loss record, with…

A 34-year-old man has been charged with murder and attempted murder in relation to the violent incident in Fairfield yesterday in which a baby died.Police were called to the property on Douglas Crescent at 2.10am on Wednesday, following a report of an assault. They found one person dead and two seriously injured.Detective Inspector Andrew Saunders confirmed that a baby had died, and another child and a woman remained in hospital in a serious but stable condition.Saunders said the 34-year-old man remained in hospital in a stable condition under police guard. He would be remanded in custody to reappear before the…