A statement on behalf of Nils and Anders, dad and uncle of Måns Loke Bernhardsson:

Måns was a super kind and loveable member of our family.

Back home in Sweden, he had many friends and was loved by all those friends and family very deeply.

He was a fantastic artist and was extremely talented. Måns was artistic, which was one of the many things we loved about him.

He was incredibly athletic and loved downhill skiing and gymnastics.

Måns was on holiday in New Zealand on what was a ‘hastily’ booked trip with two of his friends.

Attributable to Investigations Manager Tauranga, Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Varnam:

A man has been charged with murder after the death of a woman in Pukehina on New Year’s Day.

Police were called to the Old Coach Road property about 3pm on 1 January, where a woman was found deceased.

A 50-year-old man was initially charged with assaulting a person in a family relationship, however he now faces a charge of murder. He is due to appear in Tauranga District Court tomorrow.

A youth has been arrested and charged following a serious assault on a bus driver in Massey last night.

At about 7pm, Police responded to reports of a person had been injured on a bus on Colwill Road.

Detective Senior Sergeant Ryan Bunting, Waitematā West Area Investigations Manager, says upon arrival the alleged offender had fled on foot.

“The bus driver was transported to hospital in a moderate condition.

“This was an understandably frightening ordeal for the victim and we are continuing to support them.”

The recovery operation at Mount Maunganui has resumed, several hours after being suspended this morning.

Detective Inspector Lew Warner says work restarted officially at 2pm, after the team received confirmation from experts that the area was safe to enter and resume operations.

“Following consultation with a number of experts on the ground, the recovery teams have been given the green light to continue with the recovery.

One person has died following a crash this afternoon on State Highway 7/Mouse Point Road, Tekoa Range, Hurunui.

Police were notified of the crash, involving a motorcycle and a car, around 12pm.

Sadly, despite emergency services best efforts, the motorcyclist died at the scene.

The road remains closed, between Hanmer Springs and Culverden, while the Serious Crash Unit carry out a scene examination.

Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Whangārei CIB is seeking a motorist who gave a lift to the victim of an assault in Onerahi early this morning.

That motorist is not being sought over the offending, but their information could help progress enquiries.

“Sometime between 4am and 4.45am, the assault victim has been picked up in the Onerahi area by a member of the public,” Detective Sergeant Pieter Serfontein says.

“Our enquiries are still in the very early stages, but we know that the motorist drove the victim to a property in Raumanga before carrying on.

The recovery effort to reunite loved ones with their families following last week’s landslide at Mount Maunganui is continuing, supported by Police from across the country.

Dog handlers, family liaison officers, specialist search teams and other staff have been arriving in the Bay of Plenty District to provide support to the dozens of staff who have been on the ground since Thursday’s slip.

Inspector Will Loughrin, Acting Bay of Plenty District Commander, says recovery teams are making good progress but they still have days of work ahead of them.

Attribute to Kāpiti-Mana Area Commander, Inspector Renée Perkins:

Two people have died in a helicopter crash north of Wellington this morning.

Police were notified to the crash in the Paekākāriki Hill area at about 7.30am.

Tragically, both the pilot and the sole passenger were located deceased following the crash.

Our thoughts are with their families at this time.

Work is ongoing to recover the deceased and to examine the crash scene, which will be done in conjunction with investigators from the Civil Aviation Authority.

Police have arrested and charged a man in relation to the shooting at Marriner Reserve, Palmerston North, earlier this month.

On Monday 12 January, emergency services responded to a report of gunshots heard on Marriner Street, where they located a victim with serious gunshot related injuries.

Police conducted extensive enquiries to identify a person of interest in relation to the matter, including appealing to the public for CCTV of the area.

Please attribute to Sergeant Lee-Ann Grant

Police are investigating a robbery in Napier overnight where cash from the tills were taken.

Four males have entered the Z Service Station on Tennyson and Station Streets at about 1.15am today.

The males have threatened staff and taken cash tills and fled in a vehicle.

Police are seeking the public’s help to locate the vehicle, a blue Mazda Familia Station wagon.

No one was harmed during the incident; however those involved will be referred to Victim Support services.