Category: AM-NC

Source: Radio New Zealand

A controlled explosion has rocked residents on the Whangaparāoa Peninsula north of Auckland after a marine locator marker was found floating at Okoromai Bay.

The markers are pyrotechnic devices designed to ignite on contact with water, and are used to indicate a location at sea.

A Defence Force spokesperson said it was found in the water by a member of the public, and handed in to the Coast Guard, which called in the NZDF and police.

A cordon was put up around the beach, and it was blown up by a Defence Force ordnance disposal team.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/01/31/controlled-explosion-rocks-residents-north-of-auckland/

Source: Radio New Zealand

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/01/31/dance-music-fans-take-a-minute-silence-at-dj-fisher-show-in-mount-maunganui/

Source: Radio New Zealand

Motorists have been advised to expect delays, after a serious crash involving a motorcycle on State Highway 3 at Ratana on Saturday afternoon.

The crash happened about 4.20pm, between Whanganui and Bulls.

The rider of the motorbike was being treated for critical injuries.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/01/31/serious-motorcycle-crash-causes-delays-on-state-highway-3/

Source: Radio New Zealand

Jacqualine Suzanne Wheeler, 71, from Rotorua has been formally identified as a victim of the Mount Maunganui landslide.

She’s the last of six people marked as missing in the days following the slip.

The others were, in the order of their formal identification, Max Furse-Kee, 15, Måns Loke Bernhardsson, 20, Lisa Anne Maclennan, 50, Sharon Maccanico, 15, and Susan Doreen Knowles, 71.

The slip tore down tents, caravans and structures, when it swept through the Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park and the Mount Hot Pools on 22 January at 9.29am.

Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell had earlier confirmed on social media that Wheeler, known as Jackie, was from the area and was the founder of Colour Concepts, an interior design store in Rotorua.

Wheeler had been on her annual summer camping trip with long-time camping buddy Susan Knowles, who was formally identified earlier today.

The pair went camping there together every summer, Holtom said.

Equestrian magazine Show Circuit posted a tribute to the pair on social media.

“Sue and Jackie were well known, and deeply respected within the local equestrian community and this news has come as a profound shock to all who knew them,” it said.

Chief coroner Anna Tutton told the court, despite the procedural nature of the hearing, Jackie as a person had been at the centre of the investigation. While her family were not in attendance at the court, Tutton extended her condolences to them.

She said Wheeler was described as the “backbone and matriarch” of her family.

Evidence was presented by Detective Senior Sergeant Brent Griffiths, who told the court Wheeler had been identified by her fingerprints and by comparing her DNA with that of her daughter.

The remains would now be released from custody of the coroner to the family.

As this was the final identification hearing, Tutton thanked everyone who had been involved in the recovery and identification of the victims, including emergency services, those standing on a cordon, driving diggers and trucks, caterers and cleaners.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/01/31/sixth-final-victim-of-mount-maunganui-landslide-confirmed-as-jacqualine-wheeler/

Source: Radio New Zealand

Surfers participated in a paddleout on Saturday during the first event of the 2026 Billabong Grom Series to pay their respects to the victims of the Mount Maunganui landslide.

The paddleout was organised by Surfing New Zealand and Bay Boardriders, who are hosting the event at Tay Street Beach, Mount Maunganui.

Surfing New Zealand chief executive Ben Kennings said it was organised as a way to “go out and pay our respects”.

Kennings said people were coming to the event from all around the country to have fun and it was a good opportunity to acknowledge the lives lost in the landslip.

“Whenever we lose someone, the surf community does it,” Kennings said, referring to a paddleout, and he said it was a good way to acknowledge that things were “not normal” in Mount Maunganui.

Surfers included those participating in the event, as well as local surfers.

The second day of competition takes place on Sunday, one of three stops in the series, with the next event at Whangamatā, before finishing at Piha in late February.

State of Emergency extended

The State of Emergency declared for Tauranga following recent severe weather has been extended until Wednesday.

The Tauranga City Council said the focus remains firmly on supporting the recovery operation and the whanau of the six people who died in the landslide.

The memorial along the fenced-off area will remain, but all messages and momentos will be relocated to the He Maimai Aroha Community Care Centre, when the cordon is moved.

Business owners or residents inside the cordoned-off area will need a permit to get through the road closures with a vehicle, the Tauranga City Council said.

Earlier on Saturday, Fire and Emergency stood down its specialist Urban Search and Rescue team at Mount Maunganui.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/01/31/surfers-pay-tribute-to-those-killed-in-mount-maunganui-landslide/

Source: Radio New Zealand

A boat full of tourists have been rescued, after their vessel started taking on water at Akaroa, near Christchurch.

More than 40 passengers and crew were safely evacuated, when a tourist boat grounded in Akaroa Harbour on Banks Peninsula.

Thirty-eight passengers and three crew were aboard the vessel, run by Black Cat Cruises, when struck trouble just outside the Akaroa Heads.

They’ve been taken back to the main wharf and the company said, while some were shaken, no-one was injured.

Efforts were underway to recover the vessel and a spokesperson said there was no environmental damage at this stage.

Black Cat Cruises said it’s grateful to local boaties who helped with the evacuation.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/01/31/more-than-40-rescued-before-tourist-boat-capsized-at-akaroa/

Source: Radio New Zealand

A boat full of tourists have been rescued, after their vessel started taking on water at Akaroa, near Christchurch.

More than 40 passengers and crew were safely evacuated, when a tourist boat grounded in Akaroa Harbour on Banks Peninsula.

Thirty-eight passengers and three crew were aboard the vessel, run by Black Cat Cruises, when struck trouble just outside the Akaroa Heads.

They’ve been taken back to the main wharf and the company said, while some were shaken, no-one was injured.

Efforts were underway to recover the vessel and a spokesperson said there was no environmental damage at this stage.

Black Cat Cruises said it’s grateful to local boaties who helped with the evacuation.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/01/31/more-than-40-rescued-before-tourist-boat-capsized-in-akaroa/

Source: Radio New Zealand

Hundreds of people gathered at two separate protests on Saturday afternoon, prompting police cordons and some road closures.

Destiny Church-affiliated Freedom and Rights Coalition protesters gathered at Victoria Park in the late morning, and marched towards Fanshawe Street, where a police cordon had been set up.

A second protest took place in early afternoon, led by Toitū te Aroha, who calling for solidarity among diverse communities.

The first was led by Destiny Church’s Brian Tamaki, who delivered a speech and then asked the large crowd to follow him in a march.

In anticipation of the march, police had set up a cordon at the Fanshawe Street motorway on-ramp and off-ramp.

Superintendent Naila Hassan said more than a thousand marched towards the cordon.

“In Victoria Park, at its peak, police estimate 1200 people gathered and marched to our Fanshawe Street cordon, before dispersing.”

Hassan said the police cordons were a “precautionary measure” for the safety of pedestrians and motorists.

“I’m immensely proud of all the police staff deployed on today’s operation for their professionalism in response to this event. Pleasingly, Aucklanders have been able to largely go about their weekend without incident.”

The protesters marched to the entrance of the motorway, but retreated, after being met with dozens of police officers.

Tamaki addressed supporters of the Freedom and Rights Coalition at the cordon, and not long after, the group dispersed with many returning to Victoria Park.

The group was denied a permit to walk across the harbour bridge last month and police said no protest group from here on would be allowed to cross the harbour bridge for safety reasons and the pressure placed on the bridge’s infrastructure.

Superintendent Naila Hassan said a temporary stoppage of all southbound traffic on State Highway 1 was put in place from the Onewa Road off-ramp, but was lifted after a short period of time.

“We thank the public for their understanding, particularly those motorists who were briefly stopped on the northern motorway earlier today.”

About midday, a protest led by Toitū te Aroha saw hundreds of attendees march along Queen Street, escorted by police and temporarily blocking the road.

Spokesperson Bianca Ranson had said the aim was to stand in solidarity with diverse communities across Aotearoa.

The march continued through to Te Komititanga Square and the group then gathered in Myers Park.

Community group members addressed the gathering, including New Zealand Central Sikh Association representative Marshal Walia.

The rally ended with a haka led by Eru Kapa-Kingi.

After both rallies had ended, Hassan said police operations would continue to monitor any protest activity happening across Auckland CBD.

The police cordon around the Fanshawe Street motorway ramps was stood down about 2pm and Hassan said the protest group at Victoria park had largely dispersed.

“Our operation remains , and a police presence will remain across parts of the motorway network and CBD to monitor the situation.

“There are no further issues to report at this stage.”

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/01/31/two-protests-in-aucklands-cbd-monitored-by-police-with-cordons-road-closures/

Source: Radio New Zealand

One of the teams who have worked at the tragic Mt Maunganui campground landslide are returning home.

The Fire and Emergency specialist Urban Search and Rescue team are “in the process of demobilisation” and have left the cordoned-off site, FENZ said on Saturday.

However, Bay of Plenty police district commander Tim Anderson confirmed recovery efforts were continuing at the site.

“While some teams have started to depart, all the required safety measures and equipment remain in place to ensure the safety of all the teams who continue to work at the scene,” Anderson said.

The departing FENZ team have “worked meticulously and tirelessly throughout the operation”, FENZ assistant national commander David Guard said.

“Our thoughts remain with the families who lost loved ones in this devastating event. I would also like to thank the community for their outpouring of support.”

Guard also acknowledged the FENZ partnership with Police: “It was instrumental in our ability to achieve outcomes through our rescue phase and as we supported them in the DVI recovery phase.”

Six people were believed missing at the site, after the massive landslide struck on 22 January. On Saturday, a coroner confirmed the body of Rotorua woman Susan Doreen Knowles had been identified – she is the sixth victim formally identified.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/01/31/mt-maunganui-landslide-fenz-search-and-rescue-team-return-home/

Source: Radio New Zealand

One of the teams who have worked at the tragic Mt Maunganui campground landslide are returning home.

The Fire and Emergency specialist Urban Search and Rescue team are “in the process of demobilisation” and have left the cordoned-off site, FENZ said on Saturday.

However, Bay of Plenty police district commander Tim Anderson confirmed recovery efforts were continuing at the site.

“While some teams have started to depart, all the required safety measures and equipment remain in place to ensure the safety of all the teams who continue to work at the scene,” Anderson said.

The departing FENZ team have “worked meticulously and tirelessly throughout the operation”, FENZ assistant national commander David Guard said.

“Our thoughts remain with the families who lost loved ones in this devastating event. I would also like to thank the community for their outpouring of support.”

Guard also acknowledged the FENZ partnership with Police: “It was instrumental in our ability to achieve outcomes through our rescue phase and as we supported them in the DVI recovery phase.”

Six people were believed missing at the site, after the massive landslide struck on 22 January. On Saturday, a coroner confirmed the body of Rotorua woman Susan Doreen Knowles had been identified – she is the sixth victim formally identified.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/01/31/mt-maunganui-landslide-fenz-search-and-rescue-team-returns-home/