Police received report of a person washed away by waves on Piha Beach around 12.30pm.

The Police Eagle was deployed to help locate the person, sadly they were located and confirmed deceased around 1.20pm.

Their death will be referred to the Coroner.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Attributable to Detective Sergeant Luke Vaughan:

A man was due to appear in court today following an incident in Hornby yesterday evening.

Police received multiple calls shortly after 6:30pm reporting a male being chased by others on Amyes Road, one with a firearm in their possession.

Several vehicles in the area then fled the scene.

Police went to the hospital, where one person was found to have a suspected gunshot wound which is not considered life threatening. Officers also spoke to several other people at the hospital.

Please attribute to Central District Commander Superintendent Dion Bennett:

The 29-year-old man Police required to speak to about a double homicide in Ruatiti on Saturday 13 December has handed himself into Police custody.

Police launched a homicide investigation following the deaths of 56-year-old Brendon Leigh Cole and 54-year-old Trina Michelle Cole at a rural property in Ruatiti.

The man was identified as someone Police needed to speak to in relation to the investigation.

Police have arrested three youths following a swift response to reports of an aggravated robbery in Hamilton this morning.

About 6:40am, Police were alerted to the aggravated robbery on Mill Street, involving a stolen vehicle.

Thankfully, nobody was injured, however the offenders made off with two cash tills, among other items, says Hamilton City Area Commander Inspector Neil Faulkner.

“Police acted on previous information that a number of stolen vehicles had been dumped on Horne Street, and began making enquiries in the area.

Please attribute to Detective Inspector Daryl Smith, District Manager Criminal Investigations:

Police have arrested and charged a man with murder in relation to the death of Jason Poa, also known as Jason Tipene, in Hamilton last week.

Mr Poa died at a Lake Crescent address last Thursday, 18 December.

Today, Police arrested a 21-year-old man at an address in Chartwell. He is due to appear in the Hamilton District Court on Friday 26 December on a murder charge.

Police are not seeking anybody else in relation to the death.

ENDS

Hawke’s Bay Police are reasonably pleased with the results of an operation targeting drink driving on Friday 19 December – but four impaired drivers let the side down.

With the holiday season in full swing, Police set up a checkpoint at the roundabout of Pakowhai Road and Te Aea Kahikatea in Hastings.

Across the afternoon operation, Police stopped over 1100 vehicles, with four people blowing over the legal alcohol limit.

In addition to this, a number of infringement notices were issued for licence breaches and failing to wear a seatbelt.

A Police investigation has identified an offender allegedly behind two targeted wilful damage incidents in an Auckland suburb.

The development comes after Waitematā West Police scoured across Whenuapai to get answers.

A local man has been gifted a court appearance after a search warrant was executed on Christmas Eve at his home.

Detective Senior Sergeant Ryan Bunting, Waitematā West Area Investigations Manager, says two incidents occurred under the cover of darkness on 9 and 11 December 2025.

Wellington Police have disrupted multiple planned anti-social road user gatherings overnight.

Hutt Valley Area Commander Inspector Wade Jennings says checkpoints and a visible Police presence at key locations stopped the convoy of vehicles from setting themselves up.

Operation Kereru focused on 200 vehicles coming from areas such as Whanganui, Levin, and Palmerston North, with the intent of descending on the Wellington area to carry out dangerous driving activities.