Eastern Bay of Plenty Police have arrested and charged a man today, in relation to the disappearance of Jason Butler four years ago.

On Wednesday 27 October 2021 Jason was reported missing to Police, after not being seen since Saturday 23 October 2021.

Extensive searches took place in and around the Ōmāio area, including along the Haparapara River and bush areas, but sadly Jason has not been found.

Today, a series of search warrants have been executed in Ōpōtiki and Ōmāio, as a result a 57-year-old man has been arrested.

Police Commissioner Richard Chambers welcomed seven new Patrol Dog Teams during their graduation at the Police Dog Training Centre (DTC) in Trentham, Upper Hutt today.

The teams celebrated the occasion in a ceremony hosted by New Zealand Police in front of whānau and friends, and members of the Police Executive.

Commissioner Chambers acknowledged the celebration of fine police officers and dogs, and the achievement of graduation, marking the end of weeks of demanding training, perseverance and patience to become an operational team.

Five arrests have been made and drugs seized as Police target drug dealing in Ōpōtiki.

Four search warrants were carried out on Wednesday 15 September, at Ōpōtiki addresses believed to be involved in the sale or supply of controlled drugs.

Drugs and evidence of drug dealing were seized and five people arrested.

Of serious concern is the dealing from one address where children and young people were present and implicated in the supply of cannabis.

Police are seeking information following a hit and run incident on State Highway 2, Paeroa last weekend.

On Saturday 11 October police received a report that a vehicle had collided with the side of a campervan while attempting a dangerous overtake.

The incident occurred when the alleged driver of the vehicle was travelling south on State Highway 2, at around 12pm, and attempted to overtake multiple vehicles at one time, directly in the path of oncoming traffic in the northbound lane.

Police investigating the suspicious death of a woman in Pahiatua have located a car that was taken from the victim’s address. 

Officers were called to a residential address on Arthur Street in Pahiatua about 4.40pm on Wednesday, where they located the woman deceased. It was later established the victim’s red, late-model Mitsubishi ASX VRX station wagon, registration QGU91, was missing.

Detective Senior Sergeant David Thompson, Area Investigations Manager, said the vehicle was located in the Rotorua area late on Thursday morning.

Police can now release the name of the man who died following a crash in Aka Aka, Waikato, on 5 October.

He was Ryan George Terry-Daley, 31, of  Waiuku, Auckland.

Our thoughts are with his friends and family at this time.

Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are continuing.

ENDS

Nicole Bremner/NZ Police

Police found a patient transfer service ambulance among vehicles restricted by flooding and slips in Awakino on Monday night.

Heavy rain made the road through the Gorge area impassable in places.

On-call Police officer Constable Donna Potroz from Mōkau received a call around 1.40am about a major slip blocking Awakino Gorge.

Constable Potroz got to the scene quickly to find multiple vehicles, including a patient transfer service ambulance with a newborn on board, stuck by slips.

She was able to provide support and advice to motorists at the scene.

Please attribute to Detective Inspector Tofilau Faamanuia Va’aelua, Counties Manukau CIB:

Police investigating the fatal fire at Bucklands Beach on 2 October can now confirm the details of those who died.

They were Jung Sup Lee, 36, and Ha-il Lee, 11, both of Bucklands Beach.

Our thoughts and sympathies remain with the family at this difficult time.

At 2.30am on Thursday 2 October Emergency Services responded to the house fire on Murvale Drive.