Whanau seek answers in Levin death

crime police 7:44 am today
The whanau of a Levin man who died in February at a beach near the lower North Island town believe one woman knows more about what happened to him than she's letting on. Police say the death of 34-year-old Michael Joseph Tamatea, whose body was found in a pond at Hokio Beach, was not suspicious. Lauren Crimp has more.

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RNZ News

8 hours ago

• RNZ News

Assault on popular Porirua walking track prompts re-assurance patrols

The man wore a dark long sleeve top, dark-coloured track pants and a cap, police said. Photo: 123RF Wellington police will carry out re-assurance patrols, after the daylight assault of a female on a Porirua walking track. Detective Sergeant Ben Evans said the assault happened about halfway up the stairs of the Rangituhi/Colonial Knob walking track at about 3.30pm on Wednesday, 18 June. "This is a deeply concerning incident and police are offering support to the victim, who is understandably shaken," he said. "Police are following positive lines of enquiry, but are seeking the public's assistance to help locate the alleged offender. "The man was wearing a dark-coloured long-sleeve top, dark-coloured track pants and a cap." The Rangituhi/Colonial Knob walking track. Photo: WellingtonNZ Police asked anyone who was in the area at the time or had footage of a person matching that description to contact them, via 105, either over the phone or online, referencing file number 250618/1395. Information could also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111. Detective Sergeant Evans said Rangithui/Colonial Knob was a popular walking area and police understood this incident might cause some concern. "Police will be conducting re-assurance patrols in the area in the coming days," he said. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

RNZ News

9 hours ago

• RNZ News

Auckland couple plan legal action after police officer avoids assault charges

By Al Williams, Open Justice reporter of Celeste Howell and Anaru Mano are unhappy with how a police callout was handled. Photo: Supplied/ NZME - Jason Dorday A couple at the centre of a police assault are considering taking legal action after an officer who stomped, tackled, punched and kneed one of them avoided prosecution. Anaru Mano and Celeste Howell, who was eight months pregnant at the time, have questioned why the officer was not charged with assault and believe police have mishandled the investigation. Police decided that, despite there being enough evidence to prosecute the officer, it wasn't in the public interest to do so. The Independent Police Complaints Authority (IPCA), which oversaw the investigation, agreed. However, the couple say the officer, who has since resigned and is believed to have moved overseas, should have been held to account for his actions. "He should have been prosecuted," Howell said. "We would like to see him brought back to New Zealand and prosecuted. "It's not finished - he left without consequence for his actions." The couple were living in a Lifewise facility in Ōtara, South Auckland, in November 2023, when police were called to reports of a family harm incident. The organisation provides housing and wraparound support for young people who do not have a safe or stable place to live, and aims to support them. Howell says she was struggling with her mental health on the day police were called. Mano was trying to restrain her, as she tried to flee the property. When two officers arrived, they spoke to the couple, before escorting Mano outside the building. According to a summary from the IPCA, the officers were trying to handcuff Mano, but he resisted by keeping his arms at his sides. He was then tackled to the ground and punched by one of the officers. Howell, who was on the second-floor balcony and watching events unfold, tried to verbally interject, before throwing a clay plant pot, which hit the officer on the back. Both officers then tried to drag Mano away. He tried to hold on to a fence and was pulled away. The officer who had punched and kneed Mano then stomped on his torso. Howell then threw a plastic plant pot, which missed both officers. After being handcuffed, Mano was escorted to a nearby police car. As additional officers arrived, the officer who had punched and stomped on Mano re-entered the building and arrested Howell. She alleged the officer "man-handled" her, causing her to fall, handcuffed and belly-first, down concrete stairs. She also claims he struck her on the back of the neck, when escorting her to a police car. Anaru Mano and Celeste Howell Photo: Supplied/ NZME - Jason Dorday Mano was arrested and charged with resisting arrest and assault on a person in a family relationship. Howell was also arrested and charged with assault with a weapon for throwing the pot plants. However, she managed to locate CCTV footage of what happened and gave it to her lawyer, James McGilvary. The charge against Mano of resisting arrest was withdrawn, as was Howell's charge of assault with a weapon. Mano instead pleaded guilty to a single charge of assault on a person in a family relationship. However, the couple do not feel justice has been served. McGilvary says he is now helping them find a lawyer to build a civil case against police for their handling of the case. They have also considered a private prosecution against the officer, but know it would be time-consuming and costly, given the officer is believed to be overseas. Mano is also unhappy with his assault conviction and wants to appeal it. The couple both deny that Mano assaulted Howell that day, but he says he felt pressured to enter a guilty plea. "I pleaded guilty to dragging her inside. I would like to appeal the conviction." He knows "it doesn't look good" that he pleaded guilty, but says he felt he had to. He claims the duty lawyer told him he had no other choice, as he was facing up to two years in jail. McGilvary says the evidence against Mano did not support a charge of assault on a person in a family relationship and he would have advised him to fight it. "As part of the police case against Celeste, I received a copy of the evidence police used to prove the family violence charge against Anaru. "I would have advised Anaru to plead not guilty and been confident of success at trial." Celeste Howell and Anaru Mano discuss the investigation with lawyer Jamie McGilvary. Photo: Supplied/ NZME - Jason Dorday After the couple were arrested, a complaint was made that police used excessive force against them both. While police found force was used against Mano, allegations of excessive force being used on Howell were unsubstantiated. Howell remains adamant that she was "rag-dolled" and thrown to the ground by the same officer who arrested her partner. McGilvary says CCTV in the lobby of the building appeared to have stopped recording at the moment, when Howell claims she was pushed to the ground. "The camera does, however, show Celeste being picked up off the ground and subsequently marched to the back of a patrol car by the same officer. His hand is visible on Celeste's back, forcing her to bend uncomfortably at the waist and placing pressure on her pregnant belly." McGilvary believes there was "ample evidence" to charge the officer for the excessive force he used on Mano. He said the officer's actions, including the force he used around Mano's throat, were contrary to the police policy on use of force. The police report omitted other assault allegations, despite them being captured on CCTV, he said. Examples included the officer placing his hand on the back of Mano's head and subsequently pushing it with force into the roof of the patrol car, while he was in handcuffs. "It is my opinion that the evidence in support of Celeste's claim that the officer pushed her to the ground is stronger than that used to charge Anaru with an assault on Celeste." There was clear circumstantial CCTV evidence of Howell being picked up off the ground, while lying face down, as well as the officer's anger. "This, coupled with the statements of both Celeste and Anaru, may have been enough to secure a conviction. "[The] decision to not prosecute the officer in this case, despite damning evidence... lacks transparency and negatively impacts public trust in New Zealand Police, in my view." Counties Manukau district commander Superintendent Shanan Gray said that, before prosecuting anyone, police "will always assess the specifics of each case pursuant to the Solicitor-General's prosecution guidelines, which includes a public interest test, among other criteria". Police determined prosecution of the officer would not be in the public interest, he said. The officer's resignation concluded the employment process for him under the Public Service Commission's guidelines. The Independent Police Complaints Authority, which oversaw the police investigation, said in its summary that it agreed with the police findings and "overall accepts the outcome reached". IPCA assurance manager Andrew MacNeill said the organisation was notified of the complaint by police in June 2024. After completing a triage and assessment process, the IPCA decided the case did not meet the threshold to conduct an independent investigation. He said the case categorisation process took into consideration a range of factors, including: MacNeill said police began a criminal investigation and an employment process. The authority actively oversaw the investigation and completed reviews, as the investigation progressed. "At the conclusion of the police investigation, we completed our final review and agreed with the findings. "Whilst the police are the decision-makers on whether to commence a prosecution, we can confirm that we were satisfied that police gave due consideration to the Solicitor-General's prosecution guidelines, including applying the public interest test. "We also considered it important that police followed the Public Service Workforce Assurance Standards in relation to employment investigations into allegations of serious misconduct and we confirmed that this was completed." NZME has been unable to reach the officer for comment. * This story originally appeared in the New Zealand Herald . Photo: Open Justice

RNZ News

12 hours ago

• RNZ News

One dead after Otago farm crash, one in critical condition after car fire

(File photo) Photo: RNZ One person has died, after a crash on an Otago farm, and another has been critically injured, after a car fire in Otago. Police said one person died at the scene of a crash on a farm near Millers Flat in Central Otago, about 10:30pm Thursday. Three other people had minor to moderate injuries and were taken to hospital. Police are investigating what happened. Meanwhile, another person was flown to hospital in a critical condition, after the car fire at Karitane, north of Dunedin. Emergency services were called to the blaze on Coast Road, shortly after 6am Friday. A St John ambulance spokesperson said crews - including a helicopter - responded and one critically injured patient was flown to Dunedin Hospital. Fire and Emergency shift manager Lyn Crosson said the car was 'well alight' when firefighters from Waikouaiti arrived. "We didn't have to remove anyone from the car," Crosson said. Police said they were making enquiries and that the fire did not appear to be suspicious. Emergency services have also been kept busy in Tasman , where three people have been critically injured in two different car crashes, on Thursday. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.