A shoplifter who allegedly racked up a tab of thousands of dollars in stolen goods will face court tomorrow.

The woman had allegedly been targeting retailers in Westgate, so much so she had become a priority offender for the National Retail Investigation Support Unit.

Sergeant Julian Conder, from Waitematā West Enquiries, says over three months the woman had allegedly stolen goods worth a total of over $5,000.

“The woman had allegedly stolen clothing and food from retailers as part of the offending spree,” he says.

Whangārei Police are appealing for sightings of Zealand Watene, who was last seen by family nearly three weeks ago.

Zealand, 34, was reported missing from his Kensington home on Monday, and was last seen around 13 August 2025.

“It is unusual for Zealand not to stay connected with family and Police are concerned for his welfare,” Senior Sergeant Steve Dickson says.

“He could be anywhere in the Whangārei area or further afield in the Northland region.”

Attributable to Detective Inspector Craig Rawlinson:

A further four people have been charged in relation to the murder of a Rotorua man earlier this year.

Zain Taikato Fox, aged 20, died in Rotorua Hospital of critical injuries on 28 July.

In August, 12 people were charged with Zain’s murder, following extensive enquiries by Police and several search warrants.

A further four people have been now charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice, and are due to appear in Tauranga District Court via audio-visual link.

Three people have been arrested after being caught red-handed with a car full of meat shoplifted from Wellington supermarkets over the weekend.

On Sunday, Police were notified of separate incidents having occurred at supermarkets in Island Bay and Crofton Downs, where large quantities of meat had been targeted.

A vehicle of interest was sighted travelling north from the city, and was stopped in Lower Hutt without issue.

Around $1000 of meat was found in the vehicle, and the three occupants – two young people and an 18-year-old man – were arrested.

Motorists on Taihape Road near Hastings should take extra care following an oil spill this afternoon.

Police were alerted to the spill about 2pm. Grit has been put on the spill and temporary speed limit signs have been put in place.

Anyone using the road should obey the traffic signs and take care.

ENDS

Issued by the Police Media Centre

The first day of spring was also the first day on duty for the Hutt Valley’s new Retail Crime Taskforce – and the last day of evading Police for a prolific offender they caught an hour after his offending file was sent through.

Inspector Shaun Lingard, Area Prevention Manager for Hutt Valley, said the team was assigned a file from the National Retail Crime Investigation Unit (NRISU) this morning and within the hour had found the offender and arrested him.

Police have caught up with a serial spitter causing angst amongst several North Shore communities.

Enquiries have continued into several incidents since June this year, as the unsavoury subject spiralled on social media.

“We’ve been aware of discussion of this man’s actions across Devonport and Bayswater amongst locals recently,” Waitemata East Area Prevention Manager, acting Inspector Tim Williams says.

“Today we located a person of interest walking on Wairoa Road in Narrow Neck, and he was promptly arrested.”

A man is in custody after two instances of gunshots being fired towards Police in Palmerston North in the past 48 hours.

In two separate incidents, the shots were aimed at Police after they tried to stop suspicious vehicles.

Superintendent Dion Bennett, Central District Commander, says Manawatu Police will not put up with this display or reckless and mindless violence.

With Police already managing gang-related tensions in Levin under powers granted by a Gang Conflict Warrant, Palmerston North Police are now considering applying for similar controls in their area.

A vehicle caught with mismatched plates has left two people facing a variety of charges.

At about 12.45am, Police observed a Toyota Corolla with two different number plates travelling along Eastdale Road, Avondale.

Auckland City West Area Response Manager, Senior Sergeant Guy Baldwin, says officers confirmed the vehicle was stolen and also allegedly linked to an aggravated robbery in Dargaville.

“Officers signalled for the vehicle to pullover, however it failed to do so.

Bay of Plenty Police have intercepted and disrupted multiple planned anti-social road user gatherings overnight with arrests, impounds, and infringements issued.

A significant number of anti-social road users travelled from Hamilton, Rotorua, and other areas to congregate in Tauranga for planned meet-ups.

Over the course of the operation, more than 100 Police staff were out on the roads, conducting checkpoints throughout the wider Tauranga area.

The Police Eagle Helicopter was deployed to assist, providing crucial information to staff on the ground.