NZ Police and Health New Zealand have commenced implementation of Phase Three of the Mental Health Response Change Programme, following the successful rollout of Phases One and Two.

The change programme aims to see an increased health-led response to mental health, enabling Police more time to do the work that only Police can and which the community expects them to do.  

Police can advise a person has died at Takapuna Beach this afternoon.

At midday, Police were advised a person was seen unresponsive in the water and had been pulled onto the beach.

Police staff on scene provided immediate medical assistance to the man.

Despite best efforts by Police and other emergency services in attendance, sadly we can confirm the man has since died.

His death will be referred to the Coroner.

ENDS.

Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

Attribute to Detective Inspector Geoff McCarthy: 

One person is in custody and a homicide investigation has been launched following a serious incident in Kaitaia this afternoon.

Emergency services were called to the Okahu Road address about 12.35pm following a report of assault.

The victim was located at the address in critical condition, however despite emergency services best efforts, they sadly died at the scene.

Waikato Police are renewing appeals for information as concerns grow over the whereabouts of missing man Louis.

The 44-year-old has been missing since Thursday 13 November, and Police have been searching the area where he was last known to be.

Louis was last seen at around 10am, believed to be heading to the Tui Domain Track via the Hamilton Street entrance, at the base of Mount Te Aroha.

“Since then, there have been no sightings of Louis despite our efforts to locate him,” says Detective Inspector Matt Cranshaw.

Police are appealing for information from the public after a burglary in Napier South overnight.

At around 8.50am, Police were notified of the burglary at the Red Cross shop on Carlyle Street.

After initial enquiries it is believed the incident occurred between 5pm on Saturday and 8.30am on Sunday.

Police are now working to determine what has occurred and are urging anyone who may have information to contact us.

Police investigators are beginning a complex scene examination following several fatalities at the scene of a house fire in Sanson.

Emergency services were called to the property, southwest of the town on State Highway 1, about 2.30pm yesterday. Several people are believed to have died at the property and Police are not seeking anyone else in relation to the fire.

A scene guard remained in place overnight and investigators returned to the scene this morning.

Search crews are resuming the search for a man believed missing in the sea off Northland.

The man was one of two people on a boat that was reported overdue on Friday night. The 17-foot runabout was meant to return at 7pm on Friday, and the alarm was raised at 9pm.

Yesterday morning, the boat was found drifting with no-one aboard, and shortly after a body of one of the two fishermen was found.

Police can confirm a body has been found during the search for an overdue boat in Northland, which went missing last night with two people onboard.

About 9pm, family members called emergency services to report the 17-foot vessel was two hours overdue. The single-engine runabout had been expected to return to Pataua South at 7pm following a fishing trip.

A search began immediately and ran through till 4am, supported by the Police Eagle helicopter.