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RNZ News
2 days ago
- RNZ News
Driver dies after falling from Auckland flyover following crash
The man died after falling from the Newmarket viaduct. Photo: Wikicommons The driver of a car which crashed on Auckland's Southern Motorway early this morning died after falling from the Newmarket flyover after the crash. Police are now investigating the man's death after the incident in the early hours of this morning. Superintendent Zane Hooper said the car was first seen driving at speed on the Southern Motorway near Greenlane just before 1am. Police followed the car, with camera operators also monitoring the vehicle's movements. The speeding vehicle hit the centre barrier on the Newmarket flyover, before crashing into the left side barrier. The police unit following the crashed car passed the vehicle as it been obscured by a passing truck, and by the time it got back to the scene, the driver had got out of the car. A camera operator then saw the man climb over the motorway barrier, where he either fell or dropped to the ground below the overbridge. Police patrols provided first aid, but the man died at the scene. "This is a tragic event for all those attending staff and welfare has been put in place for our people," said Hooper. Police have contacted the family of the dead man, and the IPCA has also been contacted. Hopper said the Serious Crash Unit examined the scene this morning and a critical incident investigation has begun. "As part of that investigation, a post-mortem will be carried out with formal identification procedures to be completed." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Time of India
22-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Top seeds have it easy in opening round
The 24th World IPCA Chess Championship commenced at Dona Paula on Tuesday Panaji: There were no surprises on the opening day of the 24th World IPCA Chess Championship after the leading players picked up wins at Dona Paula on Tuesday. The tournament is open to players with physical disabilities of 50% or higher. The first round witnessed easy victories by top-seeded players, setting the tone for the rest of the tournament. Leading the pack is International Master (IM) Molenda Marcin (Poland), followed by IM Gurbanov Andrei (Israel), who is also the IPCA president. Top seed IM Molenda Marcin, along with IM Andrei Gurbanov, FM Sargissyan Sargus, FM Soltanov Sorik, IM Obodchuk Andrei, FM Lipillin Llia, Giazan Domagoz, FM Valenta Vit Vaclav, Gedgafor Chamal, WIM Leszner Liliana, Ayapov Alimzhan , IM Campos Eugenio and Takharova Evgeniya were some of the other notable winners on day one. The tournament has attracted 97 participants from 18 federations across the globe, making it one of the most inclusive and diverse championships. The participating federations include Angola, Armenia, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, FIDE, France, India, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Philippines, Poland, Slovakia, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam. The opening day not just showcased talent and determination of the participants, but also underscored the power of sports in fostering inclusion, dignity, and global unity. The second and third round will be played on Wednesday.
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
How wildfires are disrupting traplines and raising questions in northwest Sask.
Kelly Patrick wonders how different the boreal forest in northwest Saskatchewan would look if a big push to protect a large swath of it used for trapping and hunting hadn't failed. Patrick led a group that endeavoured to conserve 22,000 square kilometres of forest in the Île-à-la-Crosse area known as N-14 Fur Block, an area home to more than 100 trap lines. Recent wildfires decimated forest habitats in the northwest region, burning up to 90 per cent of N-14 Fur Block, according to one local estimate. "It's devastating," said Patrick, who was executive director for the Sakitawak Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area (IPCA), the group that sought to protect N-14 Fur Block until project funding dried up. "It's devastating because of the lack of respect for First Nations and Métis in that area who have been telling this government and previous governments about the need to allow for Indigenous knowledge to be a part of planning." Over hundreds of years, Métis, Woodland Cree and Dene people in the area have gathered knowledge to manage the land. The Sakitawak IPCA would have relied on local knowledge to establish sustainable forest management practices. A "fur block" is a defined area in which approved trappers are allowed to harvest fur. The designation does not trigger extra forest management or protection measures. Acting Île-à-la-Crosse Mayor Vince Ahenakew said the Muskeg fire that he estimates burned about 90 per cent of the N-14 Fur Block this summer is worse than the blaze that tore through it two years ago. The area is home to vulnerable species including the woodland caribou. "A lot of [animals] are having their young right now, little rabbits, the moose and bears," Ahenakew said. "You kind of feel sorry for them, as well for the people that are suffering from these fires. There seems to be no end in sight. There's dry, dry, dry weather and wind every single day." The provincial government could not confirm how much land in N-14 Fur Block burned so far this year. Dale Barks, an ecologist with the Ministry of Environment, said aerial surveys could be done this fall. "Once the fires are kind of dissipated, we can see how much is burned [and] we get an assessment of what's left after the fire," Barks said. Forests ecosystems have adapted to wildfire cycles, which help regeneration and provide diverse habitats in various stages of growth. But the benefits aren't always a comfort for people who rely on the land, Barks said. "Once the forest fire moves through ... there's really not a whole lot to do unless that trapper can find patches of habitat elsewhere in the trap line that haven't been disturbed." Wildfires in the province have burned more than 2 million hectares of land so far this year. The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) said 942,173 hectares were burned during last year's wildfire season. That's just behind the 1,722,610 hectares burned in 2015 and the 1,868,695 hectares burned in 2023. Patrick said climate change is rapidly changing the ecosystem and severity of wildfires. "We need to put some serious thoughts into planning and planning in advance," Patrick said. "We know this is going to happen ...This is our new normal."
RNZ News
20-07-2025
- RNZ News
Police commissioner Chambers 'angry' and 'let down' following allegations against former deputy
Police Commissioner Richard Chambers. Photo: Calvin Samuel / RNZ The police commissioner has emailed staff saying he is aware there are many who are "angry and feel let down" following revelations that child exploitation and bestiality material were allegedly found on the former deputy commissioner's work devices. "I feel the same," Richard Chambers told staff in an email. Jevon Skimming resigned as the country's second most powerful cop in May amid separate investigations by the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) and police. His resignation came a week after RNZ approached him, via his lawyer, with allegations about material found on his work devices. RNZ earlier revealed pornography found on McSkimming's work devices was being investigated as alleged objectionable material. On Friday, an interim injunction that prohibited publishing the nature of the allegedly objectionable material lapsed after Justice Karen Grau declined McSkimming's application to continue the order. Do you know more? Email Police Commissioner Richard Chambers said he was unable to comment at this time on Friday. He has since sent an email to staff, seen by RNZ. In the email Chambers addressed the media reports "in relation to an individual". "I am aware that there are many who are angry and feel let down. I feel the same. "It is important to let you know at this point I am unable to comment on the matter, but I do intend to do so when I am able to. "As I have said before, I have high expectations of all Police staff and will act if standards are not met, irrespective of rank or role. "These are the actions of an individual, and I will do my best not to let it distract from the job we are all here to do. "However, I am aware there may be reactions from some that do not sit easily with you." Chambers said if any staff wanted to talk they could contact him or their manager. RNZ has spoken to several police officers after the order lapsed on Friday evening, each of whom on the condition of anonymity. A senior police officer told RNZ the news was "a sad time for New Zealand police". If the allegations were found to be true the officer felt "he's betrayed us all". Former Deputy Police Commissioner Jevon McSkimming. Photo: Getty Images Another police officer said they were "very disappointed" to hear of the allegations. "Especially someone at that level of leadership. I hope all details of his alleged offending will be revealed as soon as possible. At police college we got a talk about how much the historic sexual abuse allegations from Rotorua tarnished our image. They would stop someone during a routine traffic stop and be told 'just don't rape me' many years after the allegation came out people were still talking about it." A former police officer told RNZ the allegations would have a "significant impact" on frontline staff. They had spoken to several serving police officers following the news, many of whom were "gutted". He said one former staffer told them McSkimming would not be welcome near a police station again, others expressed frustration at the reputational damage to police. Police Minister Mark Mitchell declined to comment on Friday. Following McSkimming's resignation, Mitchell accepted trust in the police could take a hit. But he told reporters he hoped the public realised New Zealand had a "world class police force". "The public are savvy enough to know that you are going to have isolated cases of bad behaviour, but they also recognise the fact that our police act very quickly to deal with that," Mitchell said. As an ex-cop, the police's reputation was very important to him, Mitchell said. "I hope that the public see through and realise that we have got an outstanding police force, we've got incredible police officers. "Yes, like any big large organisation, if there's bad behaviour, or you get people who don't hold to the values ... then quick action is taken. "In this case, even though it involves one of our most senior police officers, you've seen that action was taken very quickly to make sure that that public confidence can be maintained." McSkimming's lawyer Linda Clark was earlier granted a rare "superinjunction" by Justice Grau that prohibited reporting the existence of the injunction itself as well as the nature of the allegedly objectionable material. Following a teleconference held by Justice Gwyn, the order prohibiting publication of the nature of the allegedly objectionable material was continued - but the order prohibiting the existence of the injunction was not continued, meaning RNZ could report the fact of McSkimming's application and the interim result. On 3 June, a hearing was held in the High Court at Wellington before Justice Karen Grau in relation to the injunction. RNZ, NZME and Stuff were jointly represented by Robert Stewart KC. On 11 July, Justice Grau released her judgement, declining McSkimming's application, but her reasons for doing so were suppressed and the existing interim injunction was continued to allow McSkimming time to consider his appeal options, should he wish to do so. No notice of appeal was filed, and RNZ can now report the type of objectionable publication purportedly found on his work devices. In November last year McSkimming was placed on "special leave" as the IPCA and then police carried out their separate investigations. RNZ understands it was during police's investigation that the alleged objectionable material was found on his work devices. A second criminal investigation was then launched. At the injunction hearing, Clark alleged information deemed "essential" to the investigation had been leaked to the media, who were intending to publish the information. The information gathered during the police investigation was "confidential", she said. She said that every time police had provided some substantive piece of information to McSkimming, it had appeared within the media "in a day or two days without exception". Clark said there was public interest in McSkimming's situation, but that interest had been served by the reporting to date. Stewart KC said there were two sorts of harm that could be considered, one of which was harm to the police investigation. He said the police had no concern that further disclosure of the material would impact their investigation. In relation to privacy, Stewart KC said McSkimming was "quite clearly" a public figure. "There is a huge public interest in these investigations into Mr McSkimming's abrupt resignation from office, first working day after he had been provided with the material by the Public Service Commission." Stewart KC said his clients submitted that, if the interim restraint should be continued, then "matters should be left to take their course, if there is to be any restraining at all, it should be as limited as possible for as short as possible". At the time of McSkimming's resignation 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. "When Mr McSkimming was invited to respond to these allegations he chose to resign. Mr McSkimming's resignation has confirmed my view that his continuation in the role was untenable." The IPCA earlier announced it was investigating allegations of misconduct by McSkimming following a complaint from a member of the public . It is also conducting an investigation into if there was misconduct or neglect of duty by any other police officers or employee in responding to the allegations. The investigations were being given priority, but no timeframe for their completion date could be given. McSkimming was one of the final two candidates for New Zealand's top cop job last year, with Chambers eventually appointed police commissioner. McSkimming was promoted to statutory deputy commissioner in 2023 on the recommendation of then-prime minister Chris Hipkins. Late last year he was overseeing road policing and operational services, which include strategy, media and communications, risk and assurance, and firearms regulation and reform. During his appointment process, it was noted he had a "relatively unique career path", working at police headquarters since 2010 across a range of areas: strategy, service delivery, resolution, financial planning, arms admin, ICT and infrastructure. McSkimming joined the police in 1996 and worked on the frontline in Auckland and Southland. He had also been responsible for large restructures - as well as managing police IT systems, property portfolio, vehicles, and launching the 105 non-emergency number. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Newsroom
14-07-2025
- Newsroom
The Boy in the Water: Is the police complaints authority fit for purpose?
On its website, the Independent Police Conduct Authority states its mission is to be 'a world class police oversight body'. 'We exist to support public expectations…for the justice system to be trusted and effective.' But in light of a recent high profile coronial finding, questions are being asked about whether New Zealand's police watchdog is fit for purpose. On June 13, Coroner Alexander Ho released his findings into the death of Gore three-year-old Lachlan Jones, whose body was found face up in the town's sewage oxidation pond on a hot night in January 2019. Police quickly deemed Lachie's death an accident and closed the case, concluding the preschooler had walked more than a kilometre from his mother's house in his hi-vis vest, climbed over a fence and traipsed across long prickly grass in bare feet to the end of the second of two vast ponds before falling in and drowning. Following extensive investigations carried out by investigative journalist Melanie Reid, police reopened the case, the new review headed by a detective inspector from Dunedin. More than a year later they completed that investigation, releasing a short media statement that said the matter had concluded and been referred back to the coroner. But Reid and her team uncovered further critical information into the case and multiple flaws in the police investigations into his death. Following the release of the first season of DELVE podcast investigation The Boy in the Water, police announced a review into their handling of the case, led by Detective Superintendent Darryl Sweeney. Police also self-referred the matter to the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) 'to ensure an independent process is also carried out.' Both the internal police review and the IPCA came to the same conclusion – they decided not to take matters further. At the time, Newsroom requested a copy of the IPCA report, and were advised it was to be released 'in due course.' The IPCA then updated that advice, sayng it 'may decide to await the outcome' of the inquest. Eighteen months later and the IPCA says that, while its decisions are published once concluded, it has not published that initial report, and has no further comment to make. A summary of Newsroom's correspondence with the IPCA can be found at the end of this article. Lachie Jones. Photo: Instagram The Coroner disagrees In the meantime, the coroner Alexander Ho held a coronial inquest into Lachie's death, carried out over five weeks at the Invercargill courthouse in 2024 and covered extensively in seasons two and three of The Boy in the Water. Today is the final episode of season four of the podcast, which goes through every section of the Coroner's findings. It lays bare the stark contrast between those earlier assessments by police and the IPCA, and the coroner's findings. In his report, he describes the original investigation as 'a shambles', citing confusion over who was in charge, a lack of urgency, premature conclusions and basic investigative failures. He explicitly rejects the police's narrative, writing: 'I disagree with Detective Superintendent Sweeney's conclusion… I do not accept that the police investigations correctly outline what occurred that evening. Indeed, I have found in many instances that the evidence does not support the propositions which the police presented as concluded fact.' However the IPCA's review effectively had rubber-stamped the police's internal review led by Sweeney. (The coroner wrote in his findings that the IPCA had concluded the Sweeney report 'adequately addressed matters'.) The result? Two police investigations, one internal review, and an IPCA assessment, all now called into question by the coroner. Melanie Reid says: 'We came to Gore five years ago and said the policing in this case was a debacle. From day one, it was glaringly obvious this police investigation had holes you could drive a truck through. It's of no surprise to us the coroner has reached the same conclusion. 'It is troubling that police brought in one of their own top officers to do an independent review, who in short said 'no issue here'. And his view was rubber stamped by the IPCA. In view of the coroner's official findings, that's somewhat embarrassing.' Back to the IPCA The IPCA is New Zealand's only body charged with independently investigating police conduct. Yet in this case, it failed to intervene despite repeated red flags, public scrutiny and independent journalism raising alarms. Meanwhile the coroner has directed the police to reinvestigate Lachie's death for a third time, using police from outside the Southland district, and report back by January 2026. He also referred to the IPCA 'the police's conduct as it relates to the investigations which have been conducted to date into Lachie's death', effectively challenging it to reconsider its previous decision not to take matters further. But can the IPCA be relied upon to conduct a thorough investigation? On the day the coroner's findings were released, Newsroom asked the IPCA for its response and sent a list of questions, including: what do the coroner's findings say about the IPCA's review processes; were the safeguards sufficient in this case; and, if the police and IPCA are coming to vastly different conclusions than the coroner, are the current mechanisms fit for purpose? We also asked what measures the IPCA will take to ensure a thorough investigation of the police handling of this case this time around. It responded only to say it was 'considering' the Coroner's findings. That was nearly four weeks ago. So we went back to ask again for a response to our questions. The IPCA replied that it is 'not able to indicate a timeframe for the conclusion of our consideration' and has no further comment to make.
