After several weeks of training, two front line Patrol Dog teams and two Detector Dog teams celebrated today at a ceremony formally recognising their graduation to become working police dog teams.

“It’s a proud day for the graduates and the families of all four dog teams. The training has been busy and demanding for the handlers, but they’re all extremely competent, effective, and have demonstrated resolve,” says Inspector Todd Southall, National Coordinator of New Zealand Police Dogs.

One person has died after an incident involving a commercial mower in Te Kouma, Coromandel today.

Emergency services were called to the scene on Te Kouma Road about midday.

Despite the best efforts of staff and members of the public at the scene, sadly the person died.

The death has been referred to WorkSafe and the Coroner.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre. 

Hutt Valley Police are continuing to investigate a serious assault that left a person with critical injuries.

At around 5am on Wednesday 10 December, Police received reports of an assault at an address on Trinity Avenue, Epuni.

Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Cusin says Police continue to explore multiple avenues of enquiry and are asking the public for their help.

A 22-year-old man has been sentenced to five years and four months imprisonment for indecent communications, distributing objectionable material, and threatening to commit a mass stabbing attack, following a joint investigation by the Department of Internal Affairs and New Zealand Police.

Police investigating the homicide of a Rotorua man are urging residents near the scene to check their properties for discarded items.

Thirty-seven-year-old Nicholas Patrick Mitchell was found deceased in a vehicle on Ford Road shortly before 8:30pm on Friday.

Rotorua Area Investigations Manager Senior Sergeant Mark Van Kempen said Police were working “at pace” to find the offender, and asked residents on and near Ford Road to check their properties for possible evidence.

Please attribute to Inspector Danny Meade:

Police have quickly arrested a man in central Auckland after being located carrying a samurai sword.

Just before 4pm, Police responded to information that a person was believed to be carrying a firearm on Upper Queen Street.

Armed units immediately responded to the area and made enquiries. Any presence of a firearm in the area was unable to be substantiated.

A large-scale marine search and rescue (SAR) exercise involving specialist Police personnel off the New Plymouth coastline has been hailed a major success.

A moped rider may now have seen the light after failing to stop for Police in Auckland overnight.

Just after 12.30am, a unit spotted a moped travelling without a headlight on in the Mt Albert area.

Senior Sergeant Guy Baldwin, Auckland City West Area Response Manager, says the moped was signalled to stop.

“The moped was not only travelling without a headlight on but was also travelling at speed, which was very concerning for us,” he says.

“The rider failed to stop and was not pursued at the time.”

Police are issuing an advisory to media around interim suppression orders in place concerning Operation Hawkin, the Mt Wellington homicide on 5 December 2025.

A Coroner’s non-publication order is due to expire tomorrow, 17 December 2025, at 5pm.

However, media should be aware that an interim suppression order is still in place in the District Court.

This interim suppression includes: the defendants’ names, the victim’s name, and any reference to specific gangs.

Media are invited to the 391 Louisa Wall recruit wing graduation.