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RNZ News
17-07-2025
- RNZ News
Christopher Millen sentenced in Tauranga District Court for Waihī machete attack
By Hannah Bartlett, Open Justice reporter of Christopher Millen hid in dense bush in the Athenree Gorge for about five months after he attacked a man with a machete. Photo: Supplied / Google Maps When Christopher Millen turned up at a woman's house in Waihī to collect $20 he said he was owed, he had a "large machete" hidden under his clothes. Confronted by a man visiting the woman, Millen swung out with the machete, causing wounds to the man's abdomen and back, before Millen went on the run and hid out in the bush in the Athenree Gorge for five months. While there, he got hold of a firearm and ammunition, tools and equipment, and a sheep from a nearby property and camped in a "heavily camouflaged" makeshift campsite. Waihī police caught up with Millen in August 2024, after locating the campsite and getting help from the Special Tactics Group, Armed Offenders Squad and police helicopter. On Wednesday, having pleaded guilty and accepting an earlier sentence indication, the 48-year-old was sentenced in the Tauranga District Court to six years' imprisonment. The court heard Millen arrived at a Waihī woman's home, yelling for $20 he said he was owed, and banging on the back door. Her visiting ex-partner came to the back door to ask what was going on. Millen pulled out the machete and swung it several times, slicing the man's stomach. The man tried to push him off, but fell to the ground. The woman was ordered to serve 60 hours of community work and pay reparation costs of $500 directly to the owner to cover insurance excess costs. Photo: SunLive Millen said, "I'm going to cut you up", before he struck the man's back with the machete. The man got to his feet and grabbed a branch to defend himself. Millen took off, smashing the window of the woman's Holden Commodore as he fled. The man Millen attacked ended up in hospital with wounds to his abdomen and back. After the machete attack, Millen was living rough in the bush in the Athenree Gorge, and "actively evading police". Waihī police Detective Glen Ewing said on 12 August 2024, police discovered where Millen was camped out. They knew he was "armed, highly motivated to evade arrest and in a difficult to access location", so they enlisted the help of Police Special Tactics Group (STG), Waikato Armed Offenders Squad (AOS) and the police Eagle helicopter. The Eagle located Millen's campsite and confirmed he had a long-barrelled firearm. Millen ran from police, discarding the firearm along the way, before STG officers apprehended him "without incident". Ewing said the firearm Millen discarded was found with ammunition in the magazine. "A search of Millen's makeshift campsite, which was heavily camouflaged, located numerous stolen items and further ammunition," Ewing said. Near where he had set up camp, there was a secluded property owned by a retired couple with a cottage and a main house that was under construction. Between 24 March 2024 and 19 April 2024, Millen visited the property several times, stealing tools, equipment and a sheep, to the value of $3625.59. On 21 April, he returned again, causing about $800 in damage to a door and window to get in, and then stealing a .22 calibre rifle and ammunition. On 27 April, he came back again, this time with the previously stolen rifle. He broke into a shed and stole $369 worth of tools and equipment. The owner had installed CCTV cameras after the previous burglaries, and these notified him of movement around the shed. He wasn't home at the time but returned to investigate, calling out "come out, identify yourself" as he got out of his car. He didn't see Millen, who fled into the bush, and it wasn't until August that police were able to find him. At sentencing, Judge Arthur Tompkins gave a 25 percent discount for the guilty plea, but also imposed an uplift for Millen's previous offending. Given Millen's struggles with drug addiction and the role this had in his offending, the judge decided to give a "small additional discount". "But not otherwise given the fact that, in particular, Millen went on the run and was at large for some months," Judge Tompkins said. "And given the danger which an offender represents to the community by the possession of firearms." The judge sentenced Millen to six years' imprisonment on the charges of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and three burglary charges. On the unlawful possession of a firearm charge, Millen was sentenced to one year's imprisonment, and for the two charges of intentional damage, he was also sentenced to one year's imprisonment, all to be served concurrently. The judge noted the impact the offending had on the retired couple Millen stole from and the damage caused to the home they were building. A reparation order of $2625 was made for the damage caused, and there was an order made for the destruction of the firearm. This story originally appeared in the New Zealand Herald.
Scoop
15-07-2025
- Scoop
Operation Round Up A Significant Blow To Hells Angels
Press Release – New Zealand Police Operation Round Up has seen nearly $2.5 million worth of assets seized as Police executed around 30 search warrants on properties and vehicles this morning. Police have arrested and charged 19 members and associates of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club Whanganui chapter today, in a huge blow to their stranglehold in the area. Operation Round Up has seen nearly $2.5 million worth of assets seized as Police executed around 30 search warrants on properties and vehicles this morning. The search warrants were executed in Whanganui, Auckland, Palmerston North, and Hastings, assisted by the Armed Offenders Squad and Special Tactics Group. During the warrants across the North Island, items seized included five firearms, a brick of cocaine, $7,000 cash, and around 10 ounces of meth. Seventeen men and 2 women have been charged, including the president, vice-president, and sergeant at arms. Detective Inspector Craig Sheridan says this is a significant blow to the gang, which has had an entrenched presence in the Whanganui community for decades. As part of enforcement activity, Police's Central Asset Recovery Unit has restrained five motorcycles, seven vehicles, three properties, two jet skis, and around $108,000 cash. Detective Inspector Sheridan says the operation has been spearheaded by Central District Organised Crime Unit, in an all-of-Police approach to tackling gang harm. Staff from several workgroups and locations have worked as one to obtain these results, he says. 'The assets restrained are believed to be the proceeds of crime, and anyone profiting from the sale of illicit drugs can expect to see their assets restrained or forfeited. 'We will continue to use all available tools to disrupt criminal organisations who profit from this offending, and from the harm caused by illicit drugs in our community,' Detective Inspector Sheridan says. The operation began in March 2024 and has involved hours of planning, resources, and work by a number of Police staff. Police cannot rule out further arrests and charges. Whanganui Area Commander Inspector Neil Forlong says the arrest of so many leaders of the Hells Angels will have a huge impact on the community. 'This gang has been a part of the fabric of Whanganui for years, and the generational harm they have caused is significant.' However, it is important to remember what comes next, once gang leaders have been arrested. 'The very fact this gang has been part of so many lives means we need also to take care of those who have relied on the gang's activities for so long – partners, children, now all need support.' Local agencies will help assist whanau and loved ones impacted by these arrests, to ensure they have support moving forward. Inspector Forlong says local iwi leadership has spoken to him about introducing a meth harm reduction programme in Whanganui, which Police would be supportive of. All those arrested have appeared today or are appearing in court in coming days, in Whanganui, Palmerston North, Hastings, and courts in Tamaki Makaurau. SIGNIFICANT ARRESTS A 35 year old Whanganui man, and a 35 year old Whanganui woman are each charged with: 3x Importing cocaine 4x Importing methamphetamine 3x Possession of meth for supply Possession of cocaine for supply Conspiracy to supply methamphetamine Participating in an organised criminal group. A 30 year old Whanganui man is charged with: 3x Importing cocaine Importing methamphetamine Conspiracy to supply methamphetamine 2x Possession of meth for supply 2x Possession of cocaine for supply Supplying cocaine Participation in an organised criminal group.
Scoop
15-07-2025
- Scoop
Operation Round Up A Significant Blow To Hells Angels
Police have arrested and charged 19 members and associates of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club Whanganui chapter today, in a huge blow to their stranglehold in the area. Operation Round Up has seen nearly $2.5 million worth of assets seized as Police executed around 30 search warrants on properties and vehicles this morning. The search warrants were executed in Whanganui, Auckland, Palmerston North, and Hastings, assisted by the Armed Offenders Squad and Special Tactics Group. During the warrants across the North Island, items seized included five firearms, a brick of cocaine, $7,000 cash, and around 10 ounces of meth. Seventeen men and 2 women have been charged, including the president, vice-president, and sergeant at arms. Detective Inspector Craig Sheridan says this is a significant blow to the gang, which has had an entrenched presence in the Whanganui community for decades. As part of enforcement activity, Police's Central Asset Recovery Unit has restrained five motorcycles, seven vehicles, three properties, two jet skis, and around $108,000 cash. Detective Inspector Sheridan says the operation has been spearheaded by Central District Organised Crime Unit, in an all-of-Police approach to tackling gang harm. Staff from several workgroups and locations have worked as one to obtain these results, he says. 'The assets restrained are believed to be the proceeds of crime, and anyone profiting from the sale of illicit drugs can expect to see their assets restrained or forfeited. 'We will continue to use all available tools to disrupt criminal organisations who profit from this offending, and from the harm caused by illicit drugs in our community,' Detective Inspector Sheridan says. The operation began in March 2024 and has involved hours of planning, resources, and work by a number of Police staff. Police cannot rule out further arrests and charges. Whanganui Area Commander Inspector Neil Forlong says the arrest of so many leaders of the Hells Angels will have a huge impact on the community. 'This gang has been a part of the fabric of Whanganui for years, and the generational harm they have caused is significant.' However, it is important to remember what comes next, once gang leaders have been arrested. 'The very fact this gang has been part of so many lives means we need also to take care of those who have relied on the gang's activities for so long – partners, children, now all need support.' Local agencies will help assist whanau and loved ones impacted by these arrests, to ensure they have support moving forward. Inspector Forlong says local iwi leadership has spoken to him about introducing a meth harm reduction programme in Whanganui, which Police would be supportive of. All those arrested have appeared today or are appearing in court in coming days, in Whanganui, Palmerston North, Hastings, and courts in Tamaki Makaurau. SIGNIFICANT ARRESTS A 35 year old Whanganui man, and a 35 year old Whanganui woman are each charged with: 3x Importing cocaine 4x Importing methamphetamine 3x Possession of meth for supply Possession of cocaine for supply Conspiracy to supply methamphetamine Participating in an organised criminal group. A 30 year old Whanganui man is charged with: 3x Importing cocaine Importing methamphetamine Conspiracy to supply methamphetamine 2x Possession of meth for supply 2x Possession of cocaine for supply Supplying cocaine Participation in an organised criminal group.
1News
05-06-2025
- 1News
Man arrested over $150,000 in 'dodgy' Facebook Marketplace deals
A man has been arrested and charged with ripping off more than a dozen victims through Facebook Marketplace. Detective Senior Sergeant Ryan Bunting said the man allegedly used fake bank transfers and identification cards at in-person transactions to steal more than $150,000 worth of high value items including vehicles, phones and jewellery. 'Unfortunately, the sellers have let the vehicles and goods go with the offender before later realising no transfer has occurred.' Bunting said the man was sought by police "in relation to 17 dodgy deals between November 2024 and April this year". A 36-year-old man was due to appear in Waitākere District Court today on 17 charges of obtaining by deception after officers from Waitematā West Tactical Crime Unit assisted by the Armed Offenders Squad conducted a search warrant at a Massey address this morning. ADVERTISEMENT Several vehicles were recovered and further enquiries were ongoing. Cold coming, PM's press secretary scandal, science of sleep (Source: 1News) Meanwhile, police encouraged anyone using the buy and sell platform to conduct transactions in public, only exchange goods after payment was confirmed, and make sure the other person was a reliable buyer or seller. Bunting said Facebook Marketplace was 'a successful hunting ground for criminals". If you believed you were a victim of fraud, contact police at or call police on 105 to report the matter.
NZ Herald
05-06-2025
- NZ Herald
Facebook Marketplace scammers: Auckland man allegedly fleeces over $150k worth of goods
Police have urged Facebook Marketplace users to exercise caution on the platform after an Auckland man was arrested for allegedly fleecing people of over $150,000 worth of goods. It comes after the Armed Offenders Squad this morning assisted the Waitematā West Tactical Crime Unit in conducting a search warrant in
