Three young people are being held to account in relation to a spate of recent offending in the King Country, including the aggravated robbery of a Te Kūiti mini mart.

Earlier today, several warrants were executed in Te Kūiti, and a number of evidential items were recovered, including stolen goods.

Three young people, aged between 13 and 15, were located, and youth proceedings have commenced. Charges include aggravated robbery, burglary and theft.

Police investigating the homicide of Nathaniel Sturmey in Lower Hutt have executed a number of search warrants across the Wellington region as enquiries into his death continue.

Detective Inspector Jamie Woods, Wellington Police Field Crime Manager, says the investigation team is making significant progress.

“The team is making great progress and there are a number of persons of interest we are focused on, including some known to Nathaniel,” Detective Inspector Woods says.

Attributable to Inspector Natasha Rodley, Emergency Communications Centre Manager:

An 87-year-old man is safe and sound after strong community connections assisted Canterbury Police in the search to locate the lost fisherman near Lake Tekapo.

About 8.15pm yesterday Southern Police Communications received a 111 call from the man, who had become disoriented after a fishing trip with his dog near the Cass River Mouth.

While the man was dressed warmly, Police were concerned he was not equipped to spend the night outdoors in the cold conditions.

One person has died following a serious crash in Cambridge this morning.

Emergency services were called to Victoria Road at the SH1 on/off ramps near Te Oko Horoi Bridge at around 9.45am.

Sadly, one person was located deceased at the scene.

The road remains closed while the Serious Crash Unit conducts a scene examination.

Motorists are advised to follow diversions and expect delays.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Media are invited to attend a stand-up at 1.30pm today following the sentencing of the man who killed Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming. 

Deputy Commissioner Jill Rogers and Nelson Area Commander Inspector Steve Collins will be available to speak to media. 

Please meet at foyer of Tasman District Police Headquarters, Monro State Building, 188 Bridge Street. 

You will need to have media accreditation to attend. 

ENDS 

Police are appealing for help to identify a rider who left behind more than just skid marks after failing to stop for Police in Stoke today.

The rider was seen on a green dirtbike travelling on Main Road Stoke about 11.20am without a helmet and without a visible number plate. When signalled to stop by Police, the rider allegedly failed to do so.

Community Constable Daryl Fenemor from Tasman Police says that during the incident, the rider allegedly pulled a wheelie before losing control of the bike, crashing and sliding along the road.

Police are urging motorists to carefully consider how long alcohol can remain in their system following routine traffic stops in Southland today. 

Two drivers, one of which was in a school zone, underwent evidential breath testing (EBA), after they were stopped by Police this morning for exceeding the posted speed limit. Both blew over the legal alcohol limit. 

Both drivers admitted to drinking alcohol the night before, but got behind the wheel this morning, incorrectly assuming that it had cleared their system already. 

Please attribute to Detective Senior Sergent Shane Pilmer, Northland CIB:

Police and teams searching for missing man Saxzin Steedman have recovered a body from the Wairoa River.

Police Search and Rescue, Surf Lifesaving, and Land SAR teams were today conducting extensive searches, focusing around the Northern Wairoa Bridge and located a body on the western side of the bridge at about 12.15pm.

While formal identification is still underway, Police believe the body is that of the missing 22-year-old.

Northland Police investigating the theft of a church bell in Rawene are seeking the community’s assistance for its safe return.

The bronze bell is believed to have been stolen from the Parnell Street church sometime between 15 and 22 July.

Far North Area Commander, Inspector John Fagan, says the bell was housed in its own small shelter to the left of the St Charles Borromeo Catholic Church’s front entrance.

“The church building itself was locked and secure at the time of the theft.

A group of alleged burglars’ hit a wall after being arrested following a construction site burglary in Glen Eden early this morning. 

Police were called to the site on West Coast Road just after 1am.

“Three unidentified people were seen breaking into a shipping container inside the premises, before loading up a vehicle and leaving the scene,” Waitematā West Area Response Manager, Senior Sergeant Jon Winthrop says.

A witness was able to provide Police with the registration plate of the vehicle, and units quickly began to search the area.