Waiuku locals call for speed limit enforcements
Locals in the town of Waiuku are sounding the alarm over a narrow, bumpy road that claimed the lives of a woman and two children yesterday afternoon. Concerned residents have said Masters Road is too dangerous and will continue causing accidents until speed limits are enforced. A warning, this report by journalist Felix Walton contains distressing details.

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RNZ News
2 days ago
- RNZ News
Send in the drones: Call for aerial crackdown on dirt bikers
A Rotorua resident says drones should be used to catch problem bike riders. Photo: Bevan Conley via LDR Warfare, shark-spotting, real estate photography. The drone has become a multi-use agent of the sky, and a Rotorua resident wants them used to fight illegal dirt bike activity plaguing the city. However, local authorities warn the seemingly simple solution is anything but. Rotorua Lakes Council and local police have faced increasing difficulty keeping the city's reserves, play areas and sports fields safe from vandalism - particularly from dirt bikes. Earlier this month, police promised a crackdown on the issue . Resident Ryan Gray believed drones could be the answer. He deals with the problem daily with "loud and obnoxious" riders hooning down a nearby cycleway. "These riders dive onto footpaths and cycleways where cars can't go, and if they're chased, they'll just ride more dangerously," Gray said. "That's where drones come in. You've got CCTV, you've got the tech so why not use it? "The camera sees them, drone goes up, follows them home, you then knock on their door, and you've got them on video." Rotorua resident Ryan Gray wants more done about illegal dirt bike activity plaguing public areas. Photo: Andrew Warner via LDR A video of the issue he posted online recently sparked comments of vigilante action and concerns for innocent bystanders and the riders. "It's not even about catching everyone, it's about deterrence. If people know they'll be caught, they'll think twice. "Right now, it feels like no one's doing anything, and the community's getting desperate. We shouldn't have to wait for a kid to get killed before police take this seriously." Neil Hunt Park's main football field was closed off to the public after recent dirt bike activity. Photo: LDR/Mathew Nash Authorities in the United States, United Kingdom and Australia have trialled similar systems. Their efficacy remains up for debate although in California, footage of drones chasing and locating nuisance riders has been a hit on social media. In Western Australia, drones have been in use since 2018. They have more than 80 police pilots using them for search and rescue, surveillance, and public safety. This has included crackdowns on problem vehicles. "Western Australia is the single largest policing jurisdiction in the world," said Western Australia police sergeant Nathan Gilmour. "The inclusion of drone technology enhances police search capabilities across large distances and over rugged terrain that would unable to be accessed by vehicles or personnel." "Police are guided by Civil Aviation rules and legislation such as the Search and Surveillance Act and the Privacy Act when deploying drones over residential areas," he said. "We also know that these riders often travel considerable distances across town and the drone is also subject to flight time capability and distance from the control point." Drone use has been banned at Kuirau Park, Rotorua Lakefront Reserve, Village Green, Motutara (Sulphur) Point and Hannah's Bay Reserve. These sites are near an airport, helipad or aerodrome. Generally, operators must fly only in daylight, below 120m, keep drones in sight, and avoid people or private property. Flying near airports or in controlled airspace requires approval. He believed collating information, public help and a cultural shift in some communities was needed to tackle the dirt bike issue. "We still require the public to step up and come forward with the street addresses that these dirt bike riders are coming and going from regularly," he said. "This anti-social behaviour is a societal problem, not just a police problem. It requires a mindset shift that the community can have an impact on achieving." Rotorua police area prevention manager Inspector Phil Gillbanks said drones might seem like an "easy solution", but there were complicating factors. Rotorua Police area prevention manager Inspector Phil Gillbanks. Photo: NZME via LDR Rotorua Lakes Council was also asking the community for help, with its hands tied by the nature of preventive barriers. "We must balance restricting motorcycle/vehicle access with ensuring that reserves and shared paths are accessible for legitimate users like walkers, people on push bikes, people with prams and people using mobility devices," said a council spokesperson. Drones were not seen as the solution. "The council doesn't have the resources to purchase or operate multiple drones to deter dirt bikers. "For anyone using drones, permission is required from owners of land a drone is being flown over, so they aren't necessarily practical for surveillance purposes." LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

RNZ News
4 days ago
- RNZ News
Teacher faces four charges in Wellington District Court of indecent assault
The person is due to appear in court again next month. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King Secrecy surrounds the details of a teacher charged with multiple counts of indecent assault. The person appeared in Wellington District Court on Thursday, but all identifying information is suppressed until at least 19 August. They face four charges of indecent assault and one of intentionally impeding normal breathing by applying pressure to the throat. The charges relate to the period between mid December 2024 and late February of this year. The person is due to appear in court again next month. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

RNZ News
5 days ago
- RNZ News
Jet ski tragedy: Vincent Cornell-Cooke died after giving lifejacket to brother
By Hannah Bartlett, Open Justice multimedia journalist of Vincent "Vinnie" Cornell-Cooke, died while saving his brother during a jet ski incident on Lake Taupō. The coroner has released findings into his death. Photo: Open Justice / NZME When Vincent Cornell-Cooke saw his brother struggling to stay afloat after they had fallen off a jet ski, he told him he loved him, and handed him his lifejacket. The 35-year-old's "ultimate sacrifice" saved his brother Bronson's life, but resulted in the loss of his own. As Bronson clung to the one lifejacket they had between them, efforts were made to keep Vincent afloat in the choppy waters of Lake Taupō, but eventually he went under and disappeared. His body was found by a police dive squad seven metres underwater at 3.30pm the next day. After his death, a Givealittle page was set up to raise support for Vincent's wife and children. In it "Vinnie" was remembered as "an amazing and loving husband and father, who poured his heart and soul into his family". "His generosity, courage, and devotion to his family and friends will forever leave a legacy of love and kindness," the page read. Now, a coroner's findings have been released outlining the circumstances of the tragic death, and providing safety recommendations for other jet ski riders. On 18 January 2025, Vincent and his two brothers, Washington and Bronson, arrived in Taupō to celebrate Bronson's 30th birthday. They began celebrations with skydiving, followed by food and drinks at their hotel, before Vincent and Bronson went into town where they had "a significant amount of alcohol", and then caught a taxi back to the hotel. The next day, the three brothers headed to the lake to use Bronson's jet ski, taking it for a spin, one at a time. But about 12.30pm, Vincent and Bronson headed out on the jet ski together, with Vincent driving and wearing the one lifejacket they had between them. Neither of them could swim. As the water became choppier, they were thrown without warning from the jet ski. Vincent's lifejacket was not connected to the emergency safety engine cut-off switch, which meant the jet ski circled before drifting away. Bronson told the coroner the men were "freaking out", and he was struggling to stay afloat. Vincent took off the lifejacket, which Bronson reluctantly took. While Vincent struggled and eventually went under, Bronson managed to signal for help and people on the beach called emergency services. Police rescued Bronson about 1pm. A post-mortem listed Vincent's cause of death as drowning. A toxicology report did not detect any alcohol, but found methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) was present. The pathologist advised that "MDMA is a stimulant that can contribute to impaired judgment, and it may have impacted [Vincent's] ability to safely operate the jet ski". However, the coroner noted the analysis did not indicate when this was ingested or in what quantities. Coroner Ian Telford began his recommendations by acknowledging Vincent's death was tragic. He said the circumstances around it were "profoundly moving - an enduring example of someone making the ultimate sacrifice for their brother". However, he also said that while he didn't wish to add to the family's pain, he had assessed that Vincent's death was "highly preventable". Telford said Vincent's consumption of alcohol and recent ingestion of MDMA may have impaired his condition and judgment, but also noted, "while Vincent may not have been in optimal condition", it appears that the jet ski capsizing was, fundamentally, "an unforeseeable accident". "It could have been caused by random instability of the craft or roughness of the water. There is simply no way to determine the exact cause of the capsizing." The main factors the coroner considered relevant were that Vincent ended up without a lifejacket and couldn't swim; and a cord was not attached to Vincent's wrist or lifejacket, so the engine cut-off switch wasn't activated. "This prevented the brothers from being able to reboard the jet ski, or at least use it to aid their flotation." The coroner said Vincent's chances of survival would have been "considerably higher" had he been wearing a lifejacket and properly using the emergency safety engine cut-off switch on the jet ski. "By bringing this finding to the public's attention, it is hoped that other jet ski users will rediscover the lifesaving value of taking these small safety steps, and also recognise the potentially devastating consequences of neglecting them." Telford also urged people to refer to Maritime New Zealand's website and take note of its advice. Some of the key information he summarised was: This story originally appeared in the New Zealand Herald .