Please attribute to Inspector Porima Rangitutia, Area Commander, Otago Coastal

Police have arrested four youths after they stole a vehicle and later stole petrol from local service stations.

Overnight on Monday 4 of May Police received reports that a Nissan vehicle had been unlawfully taken from a residential address in Caversham.

Throughout the day yesterday the stolen vehicle was reported to have conducted petrol drive-offs from at least two Dunedin petrol stations. 

Attribute to Manawatū Area Commander, Inspector Marty Gray: 

A cut-down firearm and ammunition have been seized by Police acting on a breach of the Gang Insignia Act in Palmerston North.

About 8.50am on Tuesday, Police spotted a man allegedly wearing a Black Power patch on Highbury Avenue.

He was stopped in his car on Birmingham Street and during a routine search, Police located rounds of ammunition in a resealable bag.

Over the opening weekend of the three-month-long duck hunting season in Southland, Police and Southland Fish and Game conducted a joint compliance operation ensuring hunters were abiding by the law, and rules and regulations.

In the first weekend of May, Operation Daffy saw three teams, consisting of one Southland Fish and Game Ranger and one Police officer, visit a large number of ponds and maimai across the Western Southland, Eastern Southland, and Invercargill areas.

Police have made arrests after two separate incidents resulted in people being wounded in Rānui this afternoon.

Just before midday Police were called to a residential housing area on Swanson Road following reports of a disorder involving a group of people.

Detective Inspector Callum McNeill says on arrival officers located one person with non-life-threatening stab wounds.

“A 23-year-old woman was taken into custody over the incident, and the person with injuries was transported to a medical centre on Swanson Road,” Detective Inspector McNeill says.

Gangs, drugs and firearms across Hawke’s Bay and Wairoa were targeted last week, resulting in nine people appearing in court, with further arrests likely.

Operation Tar, an investigation led by the Gang Disruption Unit, saw prevention and enforcement teams working together to target gangs, drugs and firearms while also supporting affected communities.

Detective Inspector James Keene, Eastern District Police, says the operation focused on both enforcement and prevention.

Nelson Police investigating an assault are appealing for information from the public to assist in our investigation.

Police are specifically appealing to hear from a woman walking her dog who we believe may have witnessed the incident and spoke to the two parties involved.

We believe the woman walks her husky (or a similar breed of dog) on weekdays.

The incident is believed to have occurred in the Trafalgar Street South area of Fairfield Park between 16 February and 14 March 2026

The 11-year-old boy reporting missing in Hamilton and last seen in Glenview on 29 April has been located safe and well.

Police thank those who have provided information that assisted in locating him.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Attributable to Detective Sergeant John Kean,

Police continue to investigate the disappearance of Kevin Belling who went missing from his Motu Rimu farm in Kapuka on 9 January.

With the assistance of Land Search and Rescue, Police have completed extensive searches on his property however we have not yet located Kevin.

Other enquiries, including the checking of bank and phone records, have failed to shed light on the possible whereabouts of Kevin.

Police and Kevin’s family’s concerns for Kevin grow as time passes.

Police have seized property, vehicles and cash as part of a multi‑agency operation targeting drugs and money laundering in Gisborne.

Last week, a search warrant was executed at a residential address in the Gisborne suburb of Mangapapa as part of Operation Set, an investigation led by Police’s Asset Recovery Unit with support from Gisborne Police, New Zealand Customs and Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI).

The Hastings‑based Police Asset Recovery Unit has now concluded Operation Set, which originated from a Customs investigation late last year.

Police are now in a position to name the woman who sadly died following a crash on State Highway 1, Kinleith, on Tuesday 21 April.

She was Dr Regina Katzenschlager, 61, from Austria.

Police extend our deepest condolences to her loved ones during this difficult time.

Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre