Latest news with #KāpitiIsland
RNZ News
18 hours ago
- RNZ News
Police still looking for offender of daylight sexual assault near Porirua
The popular Colonial Knob walkway runs through bush and along farmland, and from the top walkers can see sweeping views of Porirua, Tawa, and up to Kāpiti Island. Photo: Supplied/ Dan Bailey Police are still looking for the offender after a daylight assault on a popular Wellington walkway earlier this month. A woman was sexually assaulted about halfway up the stairs of the Rangituhi Colonial Knob walking track in the afternoon of Wednesday 18 June. Detective Senior Sergeant Pete Middlemiss said police had received a great amount of information from the public, and they're calling for anyone else who was in the area to come forward and speak to them. They were "especially interested" in speaking to anybody who entered or exited the walkway from the Raiah Street carpark entrance between 3pm and 4.30pm that day, he added. "From the information we have already received, we have some lines of enquiry which the investigation team is continuing to follow." Police were also still appealing for any information about a man who was wearing a dark-coloured long sleeve top, dark-coloured track pants and a cap, Patterson said. "If you have any information, please contact Police via 105, either over the phone or online. Please reference file number 250618/1395." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
21-06-2025
- RNZ News
Attack on popular walking track prompts safety measures
The popular Colonial Knob walkway runs through bush and along farmland, and from the top walkers can see sweeping views of Porirua, Tawa, and up to Kāpiti Island in the north. Photo: Supplied/ Dan Bailey People are walking in pairs, and witnesses are being urged to speak to police after an attack at Porirua's popular Rangituhi / Colonial Knob walking track. A woman was assaulted about halfway up the stairs of the walking track, at about 3.30pm on Wednesday, 18 June. Police are still looking for the offender. Porirua mayor Anita Baker said people were worried about their safety. "People go up there every day and people want to be able to feel safe going on their walks, even if they are by themselves. So there is a bit of concern," Baker said. "At the moment people are going up in pairs, they're not going up individually," she said. She encouraged anyone with any information that could help to report it and for the person responsible to hand themselves in. "We want to be able to just get back to our normal day," she said. "We want our residents to feel safe." Ria Greening has walked the track about 172 times this year. She walked the track the morning after the attack, but didn't find out until about the assault until later. She said she wouldn't stop walking the track, but was now considering extra measures she might take for her safety, like taking walking poles with her. She also encouraged people to look out for one another on the track and to take steps such as letting family know when they were out walking and when they expected to return. Mana MP Barbara Edmonds said the attack was incredibly distressing and her thoughts were with the victim. "People deserve to feel safe wherever they are," she said. "The 'Knob' is a very popular track and I've personally used that track many times. I know our Porirua community will be doing all that they can to support each other so we can reclaim what is an important space for all." She encouraged anyone with any information to contact police. Police said they were following "positive lines of enquiry", but were seeking the public's assistance to help locate the alleged offender. The man was reported to be wearing a dark-coloured long sleeve top, dark-coloured track pants and a cap. Police asked anyone who was in the area at the time or had footage of a person matching that description to contact them, via 105, either over the phone or online, referencing file number 250618/1395. Information could also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111. Police would also be conducting reassurance patrols in the area over the coming days. At the top, the Rangituhi track runs along a ridgeline above Tawa and Kenepuru. Photo: Supplied/ Dan Bailey Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
11-06-2025
- RNZ News
Watch: 'Quite magical': Humpback whales spotted off Kāpiti Coast
A group of mates out fishing on the Kāpiti Coast were treated to aerial displays from a pod of humpback whales. Aidan Hutchison says they watched the whales for over an hour and a half on Tuesday as the whales cruised up the coast. "It was a perfectly flat day, no wind and there was snow up on the Tararuas, it was quite magical aye... it was choice," Hutchison said. "I've never really seen them out there before, the humpbacks, I've seen heaps of orca and dolphins but never really seen humpbacks and not that close to land. "It was sort of like Murphy's law, we stopped and parked up and turned the boat off and got our cameras out and they were sort of just bobbing up and down and then we'd start the boat to go and they'd all start these big aerial displays." The group had been out fishing for the day around Kāpiti Island and having already caught a bunch of fish decided to shoot down to Te Horo. "We parked up for some snapper and we were sort of just chilling for about 5 minutes then in the distance we see the whales jumping out, they were pretty far away. We were in 20 metres of water so they must have been like 10 metres of water of so, it would have been shallow as." Carlos (left) and Aidan. Photo: Supplied They dropped the anchor and watched the whales cruise up the coast. "They were just bobbing up and down and doing some jumps. "We've all caught heaps of fish before but never really seen humpbacks so we decided to pull the anchor and just sort of cruise up the coast a bit. We didn't get really close to them, we just kept our distance, sort of just chilled out, had a cup of tea and watched them. "It was pretty cool aye." This upcoming Matariki long weekend the annual countrywide whale and dolphin count takes place. One of the organisers, Christine Rose, says it a great reason to get out into nature at a time when the big migrating species like humpbacks and southern right whales come close to shore on their way to their breeding grounds. "All that's needed is to head to a beach or high point, in warm clothes and stare out to sea, for a couple of hours. Whales and dolphins can be distinguished by anomalies on the water surface, including sun shining on their backs, their spouts, and often, tail slapping and leaps - special traits of humpback whales in particular. "For people venturing out to look for whales for the first time, we recommend taking a pair of binoculars if you have them - but no worries if not, because often whales and dolphins are easily spotted with the naked eye. A whale spotted off the Kapiti Coast near Te Horo Beach. Photo: Supplied "Having a family or team of spotters helps cover a wider area. Prepare for excitement, and a fun day out in the fresh air, whether you see them or not, by getting involved. People are taking part in a unique citizen science project that helps raise awareness and celebrating both the mighty and the small lives we share our beautiful ocean planet with." If you're in Wellington and hope to have an experience like Hutchison and his mates, Rose said the region has many great places for whale and dolphin watching. "Sometimes they come right into the Wellington harbour which makes them really easy to spot! They're also seen from the Kapiti coast, as they head north. And elevated spots like Pencarrow Lighthouse are also good vantage points - places that give a wide perspective of the sea, to watch for any whales coming, and heading past."
