Police are appealing to the public for information on the whereabouts of Lawrence Schwalger, 50, who has a warrant for his arrest.

Schwalger is wanted in relation to breaching his release conditions and Police believe someone may have information on his whereabouts.

He is thought to be in the wider Auckland area.

Anyone with information is urged not to approach him and instead to call 111 immediately and quote file number 251211/7089.

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

ENDS.

Police can now release the name of the man who was found deceased on the beach near Thames Coast Road, Kereta on 24 December.

He was Suy Lao, 43, from Auckland, and was previously reported missing on 22 December near the Waikawau boat ramp.

Our thoughts are with his family and friends during this difficult time.

The death has been referred to the Coroner.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Police are releasing the name of a person that died near the Lady Knox Geyser in Waiotapu on 21 December 2025.

The woman was Briar Stockley, 42, of Rotorua.

Police extend our condolences to Briar’s loved ones over their loss.

Briar’s death was referred to the Coroner and has been determined to not be suspicious.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Please attribute to Detective Inspector Aaron Pascoe:

Police are continuing to investigate an unexplained death that occurred in Devonport on New Years Day. The cause of the death remains unexplained, and the Police investigation is ongoing.

Enquiries to date indicate that earlier in the day a group of people may have visited the address at 9 Kerr Street, Devonport, and used the pool, including one adult and at least two children.

Over the past 48 hours police have seen worrying speeds on Manawatū roads.

Despite a heavy road policing presence on our roads, Sergeant Ryan Harrison says some people travel at excessive speeds and it’s got to stop.

“There have been a number of serious tragic crashes in the district.

“We want people to be able to visit family and friends safely yet we’ve found way too many drivers speeding over the Christmas New Year period.

“It’s frustrating,” says Sergeant Harrison.

“We stop people for speeding and drivers are cross about being caught.

Teams searching for missing man Connor Purvis located a body high on the southern side of Mount Huxley about 9am on Wednesday.

Please attribute to Senior Sergeant Blair Dalton:

Today the search for missing tramper Connor Purvis continued.

Around 50 people focused on the upper South Temple Valley, Mt Huxley and the Huxley River South Branch, both on foot and via helicopter.

We remain closely connected with Connor’s family and we continue to feel for them, and support them, as our search efforts continue.

Tomorrow we will be using the Recco device, with the Mount Cook Alpine Cliff Rescue team, to assist with the search.

Attribute to Sergeant Jonny Evans, Police Search and Rescue.

The search is continuing for a tramper overdue in the Baton area of Kahurangi National Park.

Graham Garnett, 66, went tramping in the Baton/Ellis River area. He was expected to return on 30 December, but did not.

Today five helicopters were used in the search, including a Royal New Zealand Air Force NH90. Two specialist canyon teams searched the steep terrain with specialised equipment and a field team also scoured the search area.

A woman critically injured in a crash on State Highway 3 south of Turakina on 2 January has died.

The injured woman had been transported to Wellington Hospital after the crash and passed away in hospital on 5 January.

Our thoughts are with her family and loved ones at this difficult time.

Two other people critically injured in the crash remain in hospital in critical condition.

Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre.