A simple traffic stop uncovered a cache of drugs and cash on Monday night in Millwater.
Senior Sergeant Carl Fowlie, Waitematā North Area Response Manager says a Police unit was patrolling the North Auckland suburb around midnight, when they spotted a suspicious looking vehicle.
“Once stopped, officers approached the vehicle and spotted a bong on the floor,” he says.
“After discovering this item, a search was conducted on the rest of the vehicle.”
The search uncovered 14.5g of methamphetamine, 14g of cocaine, 55g of cannabis, 44 LSD tabs, a tick book and around $5400 in cash.
“This was a great find by our staff, who were simply out conducting proactive patrols during their shift,” says Senior Sergeant Fowlie.
“We are pleased to have been able to remove these items from circulation and the potential harm they could have caused in the community.”
A 19-year-old man will appear in the North Shore District Court today, charged with possession for supply cannabis, possession for supply methamphetamine, possession for supply LSD and possession of drug utensils.
Police investigating an arson that destroyed over $50,000 worth of property at a Rānui sports club last year have made an arrest.
Detective Senior Sergeant Ryan Bunting says the fire was allegedly purposely lit in a rubbish bin, which was leaning up against the Birdwood Road BMX club’s canteen.
“This fire was intentionally started in a bin full of paper and rubbish,” he says.
“Once it took hold the flames engulfed the canteen and caused extensive damage to the inside and outside.”
Nearby CCTV captured the incident and assisted the Waitematā West CIB investigation in locating who was responsible for the fire.
“We are pleased to have been able to hold a person to account for their actions,” Detective Senior Sergeant Bunting says.
“The BMX Club worked really hard to set up the canteen and it was part of what kept them running.
“The alleged offenders’ thoughtless actions have done real harm to this community.”
A 15-year-old male has been referred to Youth Aid.
Michael Scott Rodger is accused of murdering Richard Leman.RNZ / Nathan Mckinnon
Animosity between two men led to one of them being murdered and dismembered, a Christchurch High Court jury has heard.
Michael Scott Rodger, 46, is accused of murdering Richard Leman, 41, whose body was found in the boot of his own car parked at an abandoned house in Tyler Street in Rangiora in April 2023.
Leman’s torso was found in the car but his head, legs and arms are still missing.
In his opening statement on Monday afternoon, prosecutor Sean Mallett said Leman’s life was chaotic at the time of his death.
He said Leman was involved in the consumption and supply of methamphetamine and had financial problems that had drawn the attention of gangs.
He was also having problems with his ex-partner about the care of his children and had issues with police, the jury heard.
Murder victim Richard Leman.Supplied / NZ Police
On the day he died, Mallett said Leman smoked methamphetamine with friend Sara Plimmer and the pair then went to the home of another woman, Morgan Grant, to bring her food.
While the two women sat in a bedroom and ate, Leman went to look for a way to smoke more methamphetamine, Mallett said.
He said Rodger had also been invited over by Grant.
“The two women will tell you that as they were sitting on the bed eating the Burger King they heard arguing coming from an adjoining lounge and went to investigate,” Mallett said.
“They found Mr Leman and Mr Rodger in the lounge facing each other, while Mr Rodger had a gun in his hand.”
The Crown argues Rodger shot Leman twice, first in the leg, then a fatal shot to his chest.
Mallett said no-one gave Leman first-aid or called emergency services and Leman died within minutes.
He said Rodger threatened to kill both women, took Leman’s drugs and cash and dragged his body into another room.
Mallett said the women would be key witnesses.
Defence lawyer Pip Hall told the jury the women’s reliability would be pivotal, arguing their evidence was driven by self-protection and clouded by alcohol and methamphetamine.
Hall said his client says he did not shoot or kill Leman and the accusation was made up as a result of the women’s collusion.
The trial is expected to take about four weeks.
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
Cars stranded by a slip in rural Taihape are now free after a local farmer cleared a path through the slip with his tractor.
About 20 cars were stuck for several hours between a flood and a slip in the remote area of Turakina Valley Road with no cell coverage.
The Rangitikei Mayor Andy Watson says the cars were able to drive out and he believed they were now heading to Taihape.
Watson previously said he understood it was a local farmer who raised the alarm, calling emergency services to report what he could see.
It had been very hard to get information, he said.
It appears the cars took a back route after State Highway 1 was closed.
“They’ve found flood water that was too deep to drive through then slip has come down behind them and effectively blocked their path,” he said.
Residents in the wider district have told RNZ there are trees blocking may roads, with people not able to get to work.
State Highway 1 has been closed around Taihape.
Watson said it some of the roads the cars took would normally only see “half a dozen” cars a day, he said.
Rangitikei District Council said contractors were working to clear debris, and it was working with Civil Defence on a response to the situation.
Police said they were notified at 12.30pm.
St John Ambulance said it had so far not been required.
Establishing communication the priority
Manawatū-Whanganui Civil Defence said its first priority was to establish communication with those who were trapped.
State Highway 1 was closed between Hunterville and Waiouru and people should not use Turakina Valley Road as a detour, it said.
Many other local roads were also closed.
People should avoid non-essential travel because the roads were treacherous from fallen trees and the possibility for landslides.
Winiata Marae opens to stranded travellers
About 80 people are sheltering at Winiata Marae, in Taihape, which has opened to stranded travellers.
The marae’s chairman Jordan Winiata said they were travellers who had become stranded, unable to reach their destinations.
“They’re stranded because of what’s happening on the highways, we’ve got some InterCity buses, just multiple travellers that would have been going from A to B that unfortunately have been caught in between the roads being open and closed.”
He said the marae was preparing to host those stranded overnight and had capacity for 300.
Winiata said the power was out at the marae, but they had a generator and running water and gas for cooking.
A pair of thieves allegedly responsible for helping themselves to more than $40,000 worth of goods from various stores across Auckland and the Bay of Plenty have wound up in Police hands.
The duo have been trying to evade Police since September, with Police actively looking for the pair given the alleged tally of thefts they had racked up.
Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Williams, Waitematā CIB, says the pair have been continuing their retail crime wave.
“On Friday afternoon our staff were making enquiries at an address in Birkdale.
“The pair initially refused to come out of the address, however they were eventually taken into custody without further incident.”
Detective Senior Sergeant Williams says the pair are allegedly responsible for about $42,000 worth of stolen items from retails stores across the North Island.
“It’s great to see these recidivist offenders identified by staff and a swift response which meant they could be apprehended.”
“This is a fantastic outcome for not only out staff, but our retail community and is another example of the work going into targeting recidivist retail crime offenders.”
A 28-year-old woman has been remanded in custody and will reappear in North Shore District Court on Friday facing 17 charges of shoplifting.
A 34-year-old man will reappear in North Shore District Court on 9 March facing 27 charges including shoplifting, theft, burglary and possession of an offensive weapon.
He has been remanded in custody until his next appearance.
Police are continuing enquiries, and Detective Senior Sergeant Williams says further charges cannot be ruled out.
Police are continuing to make progress in investigating a shooting in Onehunga last month.
The Auckland City Organised Crime Unit has been investigating the incident on Arthur Street on 16 January 2026.
Detective Senior Sergeant Matt Bunce says the investigation team executed a search warrant at a Māngere property on Friday.
“Our detectives were supported by the Armed Offenders Squad, in which we have recovered a shotgun and ammunition,” he says.
“At this stage we are unable to confirm this firearm was involved in the original offending.”
Police have charged a 43-year-old man with unlawful possession of a firearm as well as unlawful possession of ammunition.
He appeared in the Auckland District Court over the weekend.
“We have no tolerance for blatant violence involving firearms in our community,” Detective Senior Sergeant Bunce says.
“The public will appreciate we can’t share the details of the work ongoing, however we have a dedicated investigative team that is working to hold those involved to account for what happened that day.”
Detective Senior Sergeant Bunce continues to call for any information to assist the ongoing investigation.
If you can assist, update Police online now or call 105 using the reference number 260116/9278.
Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
Associate Health Minister Doocey’s decision to sign the U=U declaration today is a critical step on the road towards zero locally acquired HIV transmissions in Aotearoa New Zealand.
U = U stands for Undetectable = Untransmittable (U=U). It means that a person living with HIV who is on effective treatment and maintains an undetectable viral load cannot transmit HIV to sexual partner(s).
“The U=U message helps increase testing, treatment adherence, and viral suppression rates, but most importantly, it increases the confidence and dignity of people living with HIV. It’s proof that science and compassion walk hand in hand,” says Liz Gibbs, CEO of Burnett Foundation Aotearoa.
This decision makes New Zealand the 5th country to sign the multinational U=U Call to Action, behind Australia, Canada, the USA, and Vietnam.
“Currently people living with HIV may face prosecution under the Crimes Act for HIV non-disclosure to their sexual partners (unless they are using a condom), even if they are on treatment with an undetectable viral load and therefore pose zero risk of transmission. With the Government’s official endorsement of U=U, it gives the Police, Courts and government departments the backing required to modernise outdated guidelines and policies, so they are in-keeping with the latest science.” says Gibbs.
This is a significant step forward that many across the HIV and sexual health community have been advocating for several years, and we are thrilled to see it finally come to pass.
About Burnett Foundation Aotearoa:
The Burnett Foundation Aotearoa is a national organisation dedicated to preventing HIV transmission, supporting people living with HIV and reducing stigma across Aotearoa. For 40 years, it has driven public health education, advocacy, and community-led support. The foundation empowers people with knowledge, care, and connection, working towards a future with zero HIV transmissions.
Police say the incident happened at around 9pm on Saturday night.RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
A Hamilton woman has been seriously assaulted in her own home after confronting two men trying to get inside.
Police said the assault happened on Clarkin Road in Fairfield at about 9pm on Saturday.
The woman was injured and needed hospital treatment.
Police said her attackers took off toward River Road.
Detective Senior Sergeant Neilson said police would be carrying out reassurance patrols in the area.
“Nobody should be unsafe in their own home and the victim is understandably shaken. We’re providing wrap around support for her.”
Police are appealing to the public for information, and say even the smallest detail could be crucial.
“If you know something about this abhorrent crime, please come forward as soon as possible.
“We’re still working to establish the full circumstances and ask anyone with CCTV or dashcam footage from the neighbourhood around Clarkin Road to review the video and contact us if it shows suspicious or unusual activity.”
Police were particularly interested in the period between 8.30pm and 9.30pm on Saturday.
The public can report information online at 105.police.govt.nz or call 105, using the reference number 260215/9344.
Commissioner of Police Richard Chambers lead a team of 66 Police runners at the Southern Cross ‘Round the Bays event in Wellington this morning.
Staff from the Police executive, non-sworn employees, sergeants, constables and recruits took part, some running the 8.4km and others completing the 21km race.
New Zealand Police teamed with ‘Round the Bays to create a 2.4km recruitment activation as part of the ongoing recruitment drive which included an appearance by the Police Pipe Band and the Police Maritime Unit – Lady Elizabeth IV.
Commissioner Chambers entered the 8.4km run and made it home in under one hour, alongside fellow keen runner Assistant Commissioner Corrie Parnell.
Commissioner Chambers says, “In typical Wellington fashion, the wind was the winner on the day. It was excellent to see so many Police staff take part in the event, including our outstanding recruits. Fitness is an important part of the recruitment process and joining up with ‘Round the Bays allows us to reach future recruits who have got what it takes. Running is a big part of my daily routine – it helps keep me focused. I admit I had to eat Corrie Parnell’s dust in that race. However, I am pretty stoked I still hit the PAT time even if it was a little slower than the last time I did it about 30 years ago.”
Assistant Commissioner Parnell says, “I run daily as my primary form of exercise which also allows me time to decompress. On Saturday mornings I run the Parkrun 5K event which takes place at various locations across New Zealand and the world. This is another great opportunity to network with like-minded people and gets you up and going at the weekend.”
Thanks to a timing mat at the 2.4km mark, runners could see if they have what it takes to train and complete the running portion of the police Physical Appraisal Test (PAT).
The run is part of the four components of the PAT and while the ‘Round the Bays time can’t be counted towards the PAT – it’s a great training tool to help with longer distance runs.
Two members of recruit wing 393, who graduate in March, raced home ahead of the Director of Training at the Royal New Zealand Police College, Superintendent Sam Keats. “I was running alongside Lachlan and Flynn for most of the race, and then towards the end, they burst off to finish ahead – they ran a great race.”
Wellington Harriers member, 14-year-old student Harry says, “I did the 8.4km run in 36 minutes today, which was pretty good”. Harry also easily completed other parts of the PAT – acing the standing jump and the grip strength test, two of the PAT components which were available to try at the finish line.
As part of the recruiting drive, Chambers wore a blue bib with emergency number 111 on it and Parnell wore the Police non-emergency number 105.
For a bit of fun, other officers and Police employees wore bibs marked with Police radio codes such as 103, 106 and 107.
The Honda Half Marathon 21km race was won by Toby Gualter, the son of a retired former Police officer.
The next ‘Round the Bays run with a Police recruitment activation will occur in Auckland in two weeks on 8 March.
Motorists in the Waikato are being warned to drive with extreme caution and not attempt to drive through flooded roads.
A number of local roads and highways are shut across the district, including:
State Highway 39, between Otorohanga and Pirongia.
State Highway 3 between Mangaorongo Road and Ngahape Road.
Kiokio Station Road at Otorohanga.
Phillips Road at Otorohanga.
If you must travel, please slow down and be prepared for surface flooding or obstructions on road. Anyone travelling should check NZTA’s Journey Planner website for the latest highway conditions, and local council Facebook pages.
First-Ever Attack-Defence Simulation Aligns with Real Corporate Needs Setting a New Benchmark for Local Cybersecurity Competitions
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 13 February 2026 – As cyberattacks grow increasingly complex, cybersecurity has become a critical domain of global concern and a talent shortage. According to the latest “Hong Kong Cybersecurity Outlook 2026” released by the Hong Kong Computer Emergency Response Team Coordination Centre (HKCERT) under the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC), nearly 30% of the 622 surveyed enterprises still lack dedicated cybersecurity staff. Specifically, only 26% of SMEs have a dedicated cybersecurity role, significantly lower than the 59% of large enterprises, reflecting a gap in resource allocation and technology adoption among SMEs.
Now in its sixth year, “HKCERT Capture The Flag Challenge” continues to attract top cybersecurity talents from Hong Kong and beyond, showcasing the capability and vitality of the next generation of local and international cybersecurity professionals.
To cultivate practical talent for the cybersecurity sector, the sixth “HKCERT Capture The Flag Challenge 2025” (HKCERT CTFChallenge) was successfully organised by the Digital Policy Office (DPO), HKPC, and HKCERT. This year’s competition was elevated to the first-ever adoption of an attack–defence mode, closely replicating the network setup of real enterprises. Participants experienced first-hand hacking techniques, system vulnerability analysis, threat intelligence gathering, and coordinated response in a simulated real-world environment. Through completing multiple tasks within a limited time, the competition also allowed them to break through the traditional classroom theoretical framework, gain practical experience and build confidence. The event attracted around 1,940 young contestants, an increase of nearly 40% from last year’s 1,385 participants, reaching a record high for the competition. Contestants included teams from Hong Kong, Chinese Mainland, Asia, and Europe, fostering cross-regional exchange and collaboration. In the finals, three local teams and one overseas team were awarded gold prizes in the Secondary School, Tertiary Institution, Open Category, and International Category respectively, while Sing Yin Secondary School received the “Best School Award”. The full list of awardees is available on the event website.
Participants Share Practical Experience Integrating AI into Attack and Defence The competition was well received by contestants for its innovative format and realistic offensive and defensive environment, offering a valuable platform for learning and exchange. The winning team in the International Category, W&M, commented, “Our members are from Shanxi, Guangdong and Beijing. This was our first time competing together in the HKCERT CTF Challenge. The atmosphere and experience of the finals were excellent. The tasks were centred on an attack‑defence simulation, requiring us to find all vulnerabilities while patching our own systems and attacking other teams at the same time. Some vulnerabilities were discovered and exploited by other teams first, which kept the scores very close and made the competition incredibly tense and exciting”.
They added, “During the competition, we also applied lots of AI techniques for assistance, such as applying AI to analyse vulnerabilities and refine attack methods. In the future, AI may play a deeper role in areas like vulnerability detection and code analysis, but for now it cannot be fully relied upon—human oversight is still essential”.
HKCERT CTF Challenge has now been held for six consecutive years, with its scale expanding annually and participants showing continuous growth. Many secondary school students gain their first hands‑on exposure to cybersecurity through the competition and connect with university mentors, helping them shape their academic and career paths. Several past participants have gone on to compete in local and international events, committing to a future in the cybersecurity field. Beyond attracting overseas talent to exchange ideas in Hong Kong, HKCERT continues to build connections between cybersecurity professionals in Hong Kong and Chinese Mainland. Top‑performing teams can gain direct entry into equivalent finals in Chinese Mainland. For example, participants from the previous HKCERT CTF Challenge 2024 advanced directly to the finals of the “Greater Bay Area Cup Cybersecurity Challenge”, where they secured the top four places in the Hong Kong and Macao category. This also provided local contestants with access to world‑class cybersecurity techniques, effectively promoting cross‑regional elite collaboration and talent development.
Finals Format Upgraded: Attack-Defence Mode Mirrors Real Enterprise Operations The finals were comprehensively upgraded this year. In addition to increase the overall technical difficulty, the competition introduced an attack‑defence format for the first time that closely mirrors real enterprise cybersecurity operations. Teams played dual roles—both attackers and defenders—in an environment created with reference to the real-world systems. The tasks simulated incident response and live attack-defence scenarios commonly encountered in the cybersecurity field. Within a limited timeframe, participants had to do penetration testing, exploit vulnerabilities and attack, while patching their own systems and monitoring threats in real time against attacks from other teams. This parallel attack‑defence setup reflects actual workflow patterns in the industry, effectively training participants’ analytical abilities and adaptability under pressure. Through hands‑on practice in a likely enterprise environment, contestants developed multifaceted, industry‑aligned capabilities—laying a solid foundation for their future careers in cybersecurity.
Ms Candy CHAN, Assistant Commissioner (Project Governance and Cybersecurity) of the DPO, highlighted the DPO’s commitment to enhancing Hong Kong’s cyber resilience, with one of its key initiatives being the nurturing of the next generation of cybersecurity professionals. She emphasised that the DPO has been collaborating closely with academia and industry partners to foster a robust talent pipeline and build a safer digital environment in Hong Kong. She noted that this year marks the sixth edition of the HKCERT CTF Challenge, which has grown into one of Hong Kong’s most respected and anticipated cybersecurity competitions over the years. Beyond being a contest of technical prowess, the Challenge serves as a dynamic platform for networking, knowledge exchange and community building among the new generation of cybersecurity experts.
Ir Samson SUEN, General Manager of Digital Trust and Transformation Division of HKPC, stated, “HKCERT CTF Challenge has consistently aimed to build an international platform for technical exchange. Through high-intensity simulated contests, we enhance participants’ cyber defence skills and promote cross-regional interaction among emerging cybersecurity talents. This cultivates a new generation of globally competitive professionals in Hong Kong and strengthens the local talent pipeline. This year’s finals first introduced a simulation of real-world cybersecurity operations, enabling teams to experience both offensive and defensive roles in a recent cybersecurity team. This hands-on approach is crucial for developing practical skills and incident response capabilities”.
Fostering Cybersecurity Awareness Across All Sectors of Society To further enhance cybersecurity awareness across the community, HKCERT has partnered with the DPO and the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau of The Hong Kong Police Force, to launch the “Building a Secure Cyberspace 2026” campaign to promote cybersecurity awareness. The initiative includes various educational activities, such as an “AI-Generated Four-Panel Comic”contest, which encourages the public to make good use of AI tools while strengthening their understanding of cybersecurity. At the corporate governance level, HKCERT will publish a series of practical guidelines addressing emerging risks —such as AI applications and supply chain security—highlighted in the “Hong Kong Cybersecurity Outlook 2026”, to support business in establishing a robust protection framework. In particular for AI governance, the guidelines will offer actionable recommendations covering AI system security assessments, compliance rules for employees using public AI platforms, controls over sensitive data input, and methods for monitoring and defending against AI‑assisted attacks. These resources aim to help enterprises systematically enhance their cyber resilience across governance, technology, and awareness.
As Hong Kong accelerates the development of innovation and technology and advances its digital economy, strengthening cyber defence capabilities has become a key talent need. HKCERT will continue to support businesses and the public through incident response, security guidance, and cybersecurity awareness programmes. The HKCERT CTF Challenge continues to play a vital role in nurturing local talent, fostering cross-regional collaboration, and advancing public education. By enhancing the overall level of protection, the competition contributes to the sustainable development of the digital economy and reinforces Hong Kong’s long‑term competitiveness.
The seventh edition of HKCERT CTF Challenge will be held in November 2026, featuring more innovative attack-defence challenges and continuing to set up an international category to provide local contestants with a platform for technical exchange with top teams from Hong Kong, Chinese Mainland, and overseas. Registration opens in September 2026, with finalists competing in the live finals in February 2027.
Hashtag: #HKCERT
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
A Police operation in Pukekohe quickly rounded up several persons of interest in recent aggravated robbery investigations.
The situation unfolded on Thursday afternoon with Police resource flooding into the township, resulting in three sought offenders being arrested.
Detective Inspector Karen Bright, from Counties Manukau CIB, says an off-duty officer located a group near the Michael Hill jewellery store.
One of the group was sought in connection with an aggravated robbery at a Napier Michael Hill store on 3 February, and a Papatoetoe bar on 10 February.
“The group were acting suspiciously near the chain’s Pukekohe store before leaving in a vehicle,” Detective Inspector Bright says.
“Upon realising the risk that a further robbery may be imminent additional Police resource was deployed into the township; on the ground and in the air.
“Our staff were highly visible and there was nowhere this group could go.”
Meanwhile, the National Retail Investigation Support Unit notified Michael Hill whose stores implemented additional security measures.
Prevention patrols were also initiated across the Auckland region at other locations.
Police strike:
A breakthrough moment came when a unit sighted the vehicle of interest on Manukau Road.
With the Eagle helicopter also overhead, Police had eyes in many locations.
“Despite the vehicle being abandoned on a side road, our frontline staff quickly deployed into the area,” Detective Inspector Bright says.
“A short time later, a suspicious activity report came in where a group of young people were seen changing their clothes at a nearby high school.
“Units were soon on scene stopping two young people, while Eagle observed two other males trying to walk away from the area.”
They were no match for frontline staff who quickly gave chase on foot on Harris Street, with both males giving up and being arrested.
Charges laid:
Detective Inspector Bright says with people in custody, the Counties Manukau Major Crime Team worked into the night to lay appropriate charges.
– A 17-year-old male has been charged with two counts of aggravated robbery, for the Napier and Papatoetoe incidents, as well as four counts of unlawfully taking a motor vehicle.
– A 15-year-old male has also been charged with aggravated robbery over the Papatoetoe incident on 10 February.
– Another 17-year-old male has been charged with aggravated robbery over an incident at a Takanini vape store on 23 January. He also faces several charges relating to vehicle crime.
“This is an outstanding result by every single staff member involved in responding on Thursday,” Detective Inspector Bright says.
“Between a highly visible Police response and partnerships with retailers, we have prevented further offending from taking place.
“These young people are now all before the Manukau Youth Court.”
The school block destroyed in a suspected arson is being demolished.Taupō-nui-a-Tia College
Students from a Taupō secondary school that lost a classroom block in a suspected arson will continue learning from home next week.
Roads around Taupō-nui-a-Tia College, on Spa Road, were closed for about four hours on Sunday while firefighters battled the blaze.
Since Monday the school’s 1200 students have been doing lessons online at home.
Principal Ben Claxton said demolition of the destroyed block began on Tuesday and was continuing – meaning students couldn’t yet return.
“The demolition was expected to take a while and for all sorts of health and safety reasons we’ve asked our students to remain home for the remainder of this week and next week, at this point.
“We’re going to review it on Wednesday.”
Principal Ben Claxton says students will continue to learn online into next week.RNZ / Jimmy Ellingham
The destroyed classroom block had 11 teaching spaces, as well as housing the school’s health and counselling services.
Claxton said he expected online learning to ramp up next week, and the school would communicate its expectations about that.
“Learning from home is a good option to have, but nothing beats face to face, so we are literally today starting to look at what we can do for the rest of the year.”
Some students and staff members were affected by what had happened and on Wednesday staff came together to share stories and plan for the future.
Although, Claxton said this week had been negotiated step by step, especially when the school was still in crisis mode.
Firefighters could be seen on the roof at Taupō-nui-a-Tia College during the fire.LES WILLS / SUPPLIED
In the short term some classes could be held in a nearby tertiary institution, which had volunteered its space. Claxton said that was getting finalised.
“The medium to long term is we’re hopeful of getting some form of relocatable-classroom situation onsite, to the number that we need.
“That’s all happening in the background with the ministry at the moment.”
Claxton said rebuilding projects could take time to plan and then begin.
A Ministry of Education spokesperson said it was exploring a range of temporary classroom options.
“The school continues to deliver online learning while the site is cleared and the best approach is determined.
“We understand the significant impact the fire has had on staff, students, and the wider community, and we are working with urgency to make sure any disruption to teaching and learning is minimised.”
Please attribute the following to Acting Superintendent Ash Tabb, Christchurch Metro Acting Area Commander:
A quick-thinking member of the public led Police to a burglar after spotting their own stolen tools on Facebook marketplace.
They arranged to meet the seller and viewed the tools which were reported stolen in January. After seeing the engravement they made, the victim knew the tools were theirs. As they left, they snapped a picture of the offender to pass onto Police.
Police executed a search warrant on the property and located the tools, returning them to the victim. A further three bags and crate of tools were seized for officers to evaluate whether they were stolen.
A firearm was also located and seized from the roof space.
A 33-year-old man will appear in the Christchurch District Court tomorrow on a range of charges including receiving stolen property, unlawfully possessing a firearm, and drugs charges.
Police will continue to investigate to determine whether the seized items have been reported stolen.
To prevent theft and help to recover tools:
Store your tools securely in a locked cupboard, out of sight.
Engrave the tools to help identify them during recovery.