Attribute to Bay of Plenty District Commander Superintendent Tim Anderson

Recovery work at Mount Maunganui has been halted as a precaution this morning. At 11.50am, recovery efforts were paused after concerns from the grounds about a potential slip.

Geotechnical experts are assessing the area and teams will resume work as soon as they are cleared to do so.

Delays like this are frustrating but the safety of everyone supporting the recovery effort is paramount.

We will resume our search as soon as possible.

My love for Max is impossible to explain, no words are big enough to describe this love or loss. What I can say is from the moment I first looked at his beautiful blue eyes almost 16 years ago he had my whole heart, he was my sunshine. Max was an incredible, kind, and beautiful human being. He was a wonderful son, a devoted big brother, grandson, nephew, friend, teammate, and boyfriend. He was such a good kid, and he is so deeply loved.

The search for victims of Thursday’s landslide at Mount Maunganui is now moving into a recovery phase.

Bay of Plenty District Commander Superintendent Tim Anderson said the operation was formally handed over to Police by Fire and Emergency New Zealand at 11:20am today.

“Every single person involved in this operation has been focused solely on saving the lives of the people under the slip. Search teams have been working through the slip layer by layer, but tragically it is now apparent that we will not be able to bring them home alive.

A media stand-up regarding weather-related incidents in Western Bay of Plenty will be held in Mount Maunganui at 12:30pm.

This will be held outside the surf club, at the corner of Marine Parade and Adams Avenue.

Police, alongside Fire and Emergency New Zealand and Civil Defence will be present.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Please attribute to Detective Sergeant Hayden Smale:

A homicide investigation has been launched following the death of a woman in Crichton, Clutha last night.

Emergency services were called to Adams Flat Road at around 6:10pm.

A man remains in a critical condition in hospital following the incident.

A scene guard is in place at the address while Police staff conduct a scene examination.

Enquiries into the circumstances of the incident remain ongoing.

There is not believed to be any risk to public safety following this incident.

Please attribute to Inspector Nicky Cooney, Eastern Bay of Plenty Area Commander:

An operation is underway to locate a man who is unaccounted for following a water-related incident in Opotiki.

Police were called to the Waioeka River at around 5.30pm yesterday after a report that a man had fallen off his boat and was swept downstream.

Emergency services carried out an initial search of the area and located the vessel nearby.

A rescue helicopter and private helicopters were also engaged in the search, as well as local jet boat operators.

Police can now release the name of the person who died following a workplace incident on Taihape-Napier Road, Rangitikei, on Tuesday 13 January.

He was Keith Rupene Douglas Pokiha, 17, from Paeroa.

Our thoughts are with Keith’s family and friends during this difficult time.

Enquiries into the circumstances of the incident are ongoing.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Searching will be wound down for the day around the Mahurangi River, as part of the ongoing effort to locate a man missing since Wednesday.

Today, around 30 personnel from various agencies have been involved in searching.

This includes Police Search and Rescue, Land Search and Rescue, a Police drone, and a Fire and Emergency water rescue team.

The Auckland Police Maritime Unit also deployed its jet ski to search on the water.

Sadly, the man and his vehicle remain unaccounted for.

Police are in attendance at a sudden death at Cheltenham Beach on the North Shore.

At 3.14pm, a report was received of a man being pulled out of the water unresponsive.

Emergency services have attended the beach and provided the man with medical assistance.

Sadly, despite best efforts we can confirm the man has died on scene.

The immediate area has been cordoned off at this stage.

Police will make enquiries into the man’s death on behalf of the Coroner.

ENDS.

Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

Attribute to Detective Sergeant John Kean:

Police are asking for the public’s help finding Kevin John Singh Belling, who was reported missing from the Invercargill area.

The 62-year-old was reported missing on Sunday 18 January, however he was last seen and spoken to on Friday 9 January at his place of business in Motu Rimu.

Police have conducted a series of enquiries but have unfortunately been unable to locate him, and are now seeking help from the public.

It is believed that Kevin could still be in the Invercargill area.