A body has been located in the search for a missing diver in Whakatāne.

The body was located at around 9am near the Whakatāne River entrance.

The death will be referred to the Coroner.

Police are providing the necessary support to the diver’s family, and our thoughts are with them at this difficult time.

Police wish to thank all our partner agencies for their assistance with search efforts, including Coastguard Whakatāne volunteers, Whakatāne Surf Lifesaving, and the Police National Dive Squad.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Police have tracked down a group allegedly involved in a series of aggravated robberies in the south Auckland area.

Today, the Counties Manukau Major Crime Unit executed three search warrants as part of ongoing enquiries.

Four males have been arrested as a result.

Detective Senior Sergeant Dave Paea says three of those arrests are in connection to an aggravated robbery at a bar in Wiri on Thursday night.

“Those arrested are aged 16, 17 and 19, and have all been charged with aggravated robbery following the offending on Roscommon Road.”

A fleeing driver found her grass hiding spot offered little protection from the eye of Eagle last night.

At around 11.30pm, officers observed a Suzuki Swift travelling along Dairy Flat Highway in north Auckland.

Senior Sergeant Carl Fowlie, Waitematā North Area Response Manager, says the driver was under a license suspension and should not have been behind the wheel.

“A unit signalled for the vehicle to stop on Horseshoe Bush Road.

“The driver decided to ignore instructions and accelerated in an attempt to evade officers.”

Please attribute to Acting Detective Inspector Greg Brand, Auckland City CIB:

Police can confirm one person has sadly died following a house fire in Onehunga this morning. 

Emergency services were called to a house fire on Trafalgar Street at around 7.20am.

One person was unaccounted for and has since been located deceased. Police are working through formal identification procedures. 

The cause of the fire remains unexplained, and Police are working closely with fire investigators.

Police are working to locate Bodi Mckee, who has a warrant for his arrest and is wanted by Police.

McKee, 32, is wanted by Police for breaching release conditions and is known to frequent the East Auckland and Counties Manukau areas.

It’s believed he is actively avoiding Police.

McKee is considered dangerous and should not be approached. Any sightings should be reported to Police on 111.

Please use the reference number 260204/3974.

Alternatively, information can be provided anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

ENDS.

Attribute to Wellington Field Crime Manager, Detective Inspector Jamie Woods: 

Wellington Police investigating the death of Nathaniel Sturmey in Lower Hutt last month are asking for the public’s help, as the homicide investigation continues.

On Thursday 9 April, Police responded to Malone Road in Waterloo after Nathaniel was reported to be unresponsive outside an address. Sadly, he was confirmed to be deceased at the scene.

We can now confirm that the 29-year-old died as a result of a gunshot wound.

Police have helped a pair to court after they were caught helping themselves in Epsom this morning.

At around 4.24am, Police responded to a report about a burglary in progress on Kipling Avenue.

“A resident had noticed two people were attempting to break into a neighbour’s address and called 111,” Auckland City East Area Response Manager, Senior Sergeant Tony Ngau Chun says.

The Police Eagle helicopter deployed to the report and was soon overhead in Epsom.

Two Tauranga men are due to appear in Court following a report of a fuel theft from a construction site.

At around 11.35pm, Police were notified of two people at a construction site on Takitimu Drive.

Western Bay of Plenty Area Commander Inspector Clifford Paxton, says the pair were allegedly seen by a camera operator unlawfully in the area and acting suspiciously around vehicles.

He says, upon arrival the alleged offenders fled the area on foot.

“At the scene, officers saw vehicles having been broken into and equipment used to siphon fuel.”