29 cars stolen in Wairarapa over past two weeks
Wairarapa police are urging to people to dial 111 if they suspect car theives are at work after a significant jump in the number of vehicles being nicked in the district. 29 cars have been stolen in the area in the past two weeks, 25 of them in Masterton. Wairarapa Area Prevention manager Senior Sergeant Gill Flower spoke to Lisa Owen.
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RNZ News
2 hours ago
- RNZ News
Fuel tank left open caused large diesel spill at Christchurch prison
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It remained safe for showering and washing. Marsh said the majority of properties visited were vacant or were using the town water supply, not bore water. If a property had not been visited by Corrections, or had a letter left in their absence, they were able to continue using their bore water, he said. No diesel had been detected in the bores which supplied the prison, or in the stock water in the prison farms and there was no impact on prison operations, Marsh said. There are two 20,000 litre fuel tanks at Christchurch Mens Prison, which hold the majority of its diesel, and a 1000-litre local tank which powers the heating of most of its buildings. The large tanks were being replaced by Downer, with a temporary fuel tank installed while the work was carried out. "It looks like that installation hasn't gone as planned and as a result, the diesel has gone from the big tank into the smaller tank, which feeds some of the prison systems. 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The incident was being investigated and the exact cause was not yet known, but it appeared to be related to the installation and change over to a new fuel tank, he said. Both tanks had since been lifted and checked for leaks, but the programme to replace the tanks had been stopped while the investigation was carried out. A Downer spokesperson said it took immediate action following the diesel spill to determine the cause of the incident and to maintain site safety. "We will continue to work closely with the New Zealand Department of Corrections, along with all relevant local stakeholders and regulatory authorities to manage the response, undertake thorough testing, and determine next steps." Marsh said Corrections was focused on tracking any contamination and ensuring residents had the appropriate information if it appeared in their bores. Advice it received from geologists and scientists was a layer of clay under the soil in the region would limit the spread of the fuel. 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RNZ News
3 hours ago
- RNZ News
Second Northland Two by Twos member charged with sex offences to stand trial next year
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RNZ News
13 hours ago
- RNZ News
Rotorua homeless trespassed in Amohia St in council operation with police
Rough sleepers and their possessions outside the Salvation Army store on Amohia Street. Photo: Kelly Makiha Homeless people have been moved on and trespassed from a makeshift camp in Rotorua's CBD in a scene a charity worker described as "heartbreaking". The Rotorua Lakes Council said its operation, with support from police, was respectful, safe and necessary given concerns about antisocial behaviour by rough sleepers on Amohia Street. People have been staying outside the Salvation Army building in recent weeks, near sources of free food, showers and laundry facilities. Businesses complained about people urinating in public and other bad behaviour deterring customers. This morning, the camp was disestablished. Rough sleeper Adrianne Renata said authorities "came in and moved everybody" about 7am. She said they gathered loose belongings into bins and took away trolleys being used to carry them. Renata said she walked away to avoid being trespassed. The group had been warned at dinner the night before that police would be coming at 7am, she said. A woman with her wondered where they would sleep that night, and Renata said her head was spinning. "I feel like we're being moved around like cattle … like, 'oh, you need to go and graze in another garden'." A council spokesperson said the operation was responding to "increasing concern" about people sleeping rough in the CBD, including reports of anti-social behaviour and intimidation. Homelessness in the city was a complex issue, and the council worked with agencies to encourage people to accept support and "explore opportunities for stable accommodation". "However, there comes a point where anti-social behaviour and intimidation - and their impact on the public's sense of safety in the CBD - must be addressed." The area outside the Salvation Army on Amohia Street after authorities cleared it. Photo: Ben Fraser Operating under several council bylaws, trespass notices were issued. Belongings left behind were not seized, but collected by staff and stored for the owners to retrieve. More locations will be visited this week, and the council encouraged the government and social services to provide meaningful support and solutions for those experiencing homelessness. Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell met last week with concerned CBD business owners, who urged the council to take action. Tapsell said the footpath was not an appropriate place to sleep, and the council had heard about illegal, offensive and anti-social behaviour by rough sleepers. "This has created unacceptable safety concerns for others and impacted businesses. We've taken action to resolve this issue." Rotorua mayor Tania Tapsell. Photo: LDR / Laura Smith Salvation Army Rotorua community ministries manager Darnielle Hoods said it was not warned of the operation. "It is heartbreaking to see that this had to happen at such an early time of the morning, where some [homeless whānau] were having breakfast and some were still asleep." Hoods was not sure how many were moved on, but by 8am "everyone and everything" was gone. Staff saw people trespassed, and two were handcuffed and taken away. She emphasised that whānau could still access the charity's support, and it would continue working with rough sleepers. "Homelessness is not a moral failing; it is a complex social challenge that requires compassionate systemic solutions that uphold people's dignity." Hoods believed the incident reinforced the need for council, police and agency collaboration, and a compassionate approach for "our most vulnerable community members". "We believe there are more innovative ways to address rough sleeping that centre on the needs and voices of those experiencing homelessness, and that includes advocating for approaches that preserve human dignity." Rotorua's area commander, Inspector Herby Ngawhika, said the police role was to ensure council staff could conduct their work without incident and those trespassed remained safe. "By and large, people moved away quickly and without incident." Two were arrested for disorderly behaviour. The operation followed one to remove people from a geothermal park. Council active and engaged communities manager Rob Pitkethley told a meeting this month that the accumulation of people sleeping rough in Kuirau Park reached a point of "significant public concern". Police issued nine trespass notices there, and one person was later arrested for trespassing. Rotorua Lakes Council destination development group manager Jean-Paul Gaston and community safety and regulatory services director Mihikore Owen. Photo: LDR / Laura Smith In a report to a meeting on Wednesday, community safety director Mihikore Owen said "increasingly visible" homelessness in the CBD was driven by emergency housing facility closures and "prevailing economic pressures". Tents erected in Kuirau Park resulted in litter and "disorderly behaviour". Safe city guardians provided referrals to support services and encouraged behavioural change, but "behaviours did not improve". The meeting heard that at times there were about 40 rough sleepers, with 12-15 not engaging with support offered. Destination development group manager Jean-Paul Gaston said the team worked to communicate with support agencies to convey how the support and help offered to homeless people created challenges. "We've seen that amplified in recent weeks around Amohia Street." He said previous council efforts to trespass the homeless from reserves drove more to the CBD. A further update on homelessness in the CBD was heard in a confidential phase of the meeting. The council said this discussion was not heard in public because it contained information provided in confidence, and it was not in the public interest to share it at the time. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air. Additional reporting by Kelly Makiha of NZME.
