Media are asked to remove the additional charges listed in our original media release on the youth charged with the murder of Kaea Karauria, as ordered by the Judge in Napier Youth Court today.

This is due to the charges being a separate matter to the murder charge, and these charges will go through separate Court proceedings.

We ask media to please update any stories to reflect this.

Thank you for your understanding.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

To be attributed to Acting Deputy Commissioner Jill Rogers: 

Late this afternoon, specialist Police officers conducting a search within bush near Waitomo located the outstanding children of Tom Phillips.

I’m pleased to say they are unharmed, and are now safe.

They were located about 4.30pm, in bush, roughly 2km from the location where Tom Phillips died after shooting at Police.

This is an emotional development. To know the children are safe, and now receiving care after nearly four years, is an absolute relief.

Media are advised that Police will hold a third stand-up at 5.50pm today regarding this morning’s critical incident.

Acting Deputy Commissioner Jill Rogers will speak to media in Waitomo.

We ask those media interested in attending to RSVP to [email protected].

Further details will be provided to registered media.

ENDS

ISsued by Police Media Centre

Please attribute to Senior Sergeant John Stapleford, Rotorua Road Policing Coordinator:

Rotorua Police’s ongoing operation targeting illegal motorbike anti-social road users has resulted in bike seizures, as well as landing a person before the courts.

On Friday 5 September, a dirt bike was seized from a property in Tauranga, after being involved in a dangerous driving incident, and failing to stop for Police.

A Northland man has been remanded in custody after a dangerous dash across the Far North at excessive speeds.

Police received several calls from road users who reported a white BMW driving dangerously on SH10 towards Taipa, on Friday afternoon.

“Callers estimated the BMW was travelling at excessive speeds and driving dangeorously, allegedly overtaking on double yellow lines heading south,”  Sergeant Treston Laybourn says.

The vehicle and driver were later located by Mangōnui Police near Cable Bay.

Attribute to Senior Sergeant Brad Pollock, Area Prevention Coordinator Taranaki Police

Police are seeking the driver of a vehicle who deliberately and repeatedly lost traction outside the New Plymouth Police Station around 4.40pm on Saturday 6 September.

Police observed a vehicle performing sustained loss of traction directly in front of the station before immediately leaving the scene.

Police did not pursue the vehicle due to the dangerous driving manner. The vehicle was located at an address in Waiwhakaiho sometime later.

Four gang members have been arrested and a number of search warrants have been executed overnight as Hawke’s Bay Police continue to put pressure on gangs.

“It’s been a busy 24 hours,” says Inspector Dean Clifford.

“Police executed two search warrants, and the Gang Conflict Warrant on four occasions, across Napier and Hastings and this has resulted in the arrest of four Mongrel Mob members.

“The action overnight was part of our response to recent gang violence in the Hawke’s Bay area and reinforces our message that we won’t be letting up.”

Police investigating the burglary of a Tītahi Bay store have recovered $12,000 of tobacco products and arrested three young people, thanks to quick-thinking community members.

Members of the public raised the alarm after seeing suspicious activity at the Main Road store about 10.40pm on Thursday. The offenders took off with bags filled with cigarettes, leaving the scene in a waiting vehicle.

Within minutes Police had flooded the area and located three people of interest, said Kāpiti Mana Area Commander Inspector Renée Perkins.

Missing woman Te Anihana Pomana’s family have supplied a new photo for media to use alongside the existing CCTV imagery.

Her family, and Police, would ask media outlets to please also use the attached image in reporting going forward.

Anyone with information that can assist Police is asked to call 105, using reference number 250718/6582 – note, this is the correct file number, an incorrect one was published on Friday.

Urgent information should be called in via 111.

ENDS

Extra Police remain on patrol across Napier, Hastings and Wairoa, as part of a Gang Conflict Warrant in place throughout the Hawke’s Bay.

Overnight Police used the warrant for three vehicle searches and officers arrested a 39-year-old Camberley man for possession of an offensive weapon, Inspector Dean Clifford said.

“Across the Hawke’s Bay, we have a focus on keeping people safe, and Police will continue to have a highly visible presence.

“While there were no major incidents overnight, we remain ready to respond.