Baby's body found in wheelie bin in Auckland
A baby's body was found in a bin in Auckland late last night, sparking a homicide investigation, RNZ can reveal.
Auckland City Detective Inspector Scott Beard said police discovered the deceased on Renall St, in Ponsonby, about 10pm.
RNZ understands the deceased is a baby. Stuff is reporting the body was found in a wheelie bin.
Beard earlier said police were continuing to gather information from the scene and inquiries were ongoing.
A person was in custody and police were not looking for anyone else in connection at this stage.
Det Insp Beard said a scene examination was under way and there would be an increased police presence in the area while the investigation continued.
"Members of the public can be assured there is no risk to public safety."
A post-mortem will be carried out in due course.
Anyone with information that could assist the investigation, is asked to make a report via 105, using the file number 250630/9878 and quote 'Operation Yarrow'.
Alternatively, information can be provided anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111 or crimestoppers-nz.org
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
41 minutes ago
- RNZ News
Billboard camera footage used by transport agency to spot cars and trucks
NZTA Waka Kotahi has used privately-owned automated number plate recognition cameras to identity number plates. File photo. Photo: 123RF Footage from cameras in billboards at city intersections have been secretly used by the NZ Transport Agency for the first time to spot cars and trucks. NZTA Waka Kotahi's trial started in February, and is designed to combat fraud by illegal garages issuing warrants of fitness to cars, or passing trucks. Two sources close to the vehicle inspection industry say the move is surprising and questioned why the agency would do it, especially with using third-party technology systems. Police already tap into privately-owned automated number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras to identity number plates hundreds of times a day. But this is the first known use of that power by another state agency. "The ANPR donor cameras in the trial are not being used 'to spy on mechanics issuing warrants', nor would they be capable of being used for that purpose," NZTA told RNZ. "These cameras are typically located in billboards at urban intersections. "The trial is simply looking at the potential for using images gathered by these cameras to be used as proof of the location of a particular vehicle at a point in time." An inspector who claimed they had checked a car in Auckland at a certain time could be exposed if the car was spotted at a Christchurch intersection at that time, it said. It "could be of benefit in supporting investigations into specific cases where fraudulent or illegal activity is suspected". A well-connected industry source told RNZ: "Yeah, that has been a bit secret." NZTA might not have wanted to tip people off, the source said. "For the purpose the agency is stating, I don't have much issue with that, but the way they have gone about it is what alarms me. Especially because it's third-party [cameras and ANPR system]. "What else might they use them for?" NZTA Waka Kotahi said it was not using the images in any actual fraud investigations, but only as a test for potential future use. The test is separate from how the agency is taking over many speed and red-light-runner cameras from police, and replacing some with higher-tech models, which it will own. A second source active in the industry was appalled by the move. "Oh my god," they said. "It is part of your right to know the audit process you go through. You can't sabotage your process because of a trial." Months of inquiries by RNZ in 2018 showed up mass deficiencies in NZTA's oversight of how truck certificates of fitness were being issued. The systems were reviewed and changed. There have been further reports of inspectors anonymously recounting examples of how they feel they have been subject to unfair targeting by the agency. "You have got layers and layers of issues here," said the second source. "What's the limit [of surveillance]?" They questioned why was the camera sting even needed when fraud would "show up in paperwork. There will be tons of other evidence that can be used against people". Many supermarkets, petrol stations, other businesses and councils have a total of thousands of cameras that link into ANPR software systems run by two Auckland companies - Auror and SaferCities. The new trial uses SaferCities vGrid system , NZTA said. Its system covered electronic billboard operators such as LUMO, which had built-in cameras with ANPR software, and CCTV operators including councils, individual businesses and car park operators, the agency said. Police accessed the vGrid system more than 400,000 times last year. "NZTA only has access to still images from ANPR donor cameras whose owners have specifically agreed to our usage," Waka Kotahi told RNZ in the OIA response. "Currently, this only includes LUMO and more recently, Hamilton City Council." RNZ approached LUMO for comment. As of 2022, the country had at least 1400 digital billboards and screen-posters, many of them with smart technology and ANPR cameras . The police tapped the ANPR systems 700,000 times last year. In October, two district court judges dismissed legal challenges to the police using them so much without a warrant, though it is expected there will be at least one appeal against that finding. The fraud camera trial comes at the same time Waka Kotahi is reviewing the WOF-COF system to reduce how often collectors of old vehicles, and motorhome users, have to get a warrant. The agency has been increasing a lot of the fees it charges motorists since 2023. Another batch of rises is due next January that are expected to push up total fees collected by $10m to $264m . Camera footage could be used where it was suspected that WoFs or CoFs had been issued to vehicles which had not been inspected at the time or place recorded by a vehicle inspector, the transport agency said. It gave a hypothetical scenario to RNZ: "If NZTA was investigating a vehicle inspector suspected of fraud, and if the inspector had issued a WoF to a vehicle which was recorded as having been inspected at a WoF garage in Auckland at 2pm on 1 July, 2025, and we were able to access a still image from a donor camera of the same vehicle driving past a billboard located in Christchurch at 3:30pm on 1 July, 2025, this could potentially be used as evidence to prove that the WoF had been issued fraudulently, because the vehicle was not in Auckland at the time of the recorded inspection." This would not be a part of regular compliance monitoring, it said. Regular compliance monitoring included scheduled reviews where compliance officers visited inspection sites, as well as 'mystery shopper' activity. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
NZ Herald
10 hours ago
- NZ Herald
Police hunt for car involved in Whangārei bar robbery
27 Jul, 2025 07:49 AM Quick Read Police are seeking a white Toyota Aqua with stolen licence plates, registration KHA69, in connection to a violent bar robbery in Whangārei. Photo / Dean Purcell By RNZ Police are asking for help in locating a car involved in a violent bar robbery in Whangārei on Friday night. A shot was fired into the roof of the bar by an armed robber, who also assaulted a patron. Whangārei police said two suspects were sought, after entering the premises on Kensington Avenue with a firearm and demanding money. A man wielding a gun burst into the bar through the smokers' area about 9.30pm and demanded staff give him money from the till.
NZ Herald
11 hours ago
- NZ Herald
Auckland woman horrified council tried to take rough sleepers' tents, sleeping bags
'You can visibly see it, if you're walking around the streets. There just seems to be a lot more people [who] have come into hard times." A few days later, Scott was walking past, when workers exited an Auckland Council van with black rubbish sacks and started collecting the belongings. She said the men who slept there were absent, but had stashed the tents and sleeping bags in a small pile under the shelter. 'They had found the place where the people had stashed all their warm stuff to sleep in and they were pulling it down out of its place. I walked straight up to them and said, 'Do not take their stuff - what are they going to do? They've got nothing else to keep them warm and it's been freezing this week'.' Scott said the council workers left without taking the rough sleepers' belongings, but she was horrified they had tried to collect it. 'It's upsetting and I don't know what the answer is, but taking people's stuff from them is definitely not the answer,' she said. 'Imagine coming back from your day and you're about to bed down to sleep on some concrete stairs, and someone's taken your last warmth or barrier for that. 'I just think it's cruel.' Auckland Council compliance manager Adrian Wilson said there rough sleepers had no designated areas to store belongings and the council was exploring possibilities for this. He said council staff would seize items when they were not removed and 'anything of value, including tents, sleeping bags and personal items are stored'. The council retained such items for six months, if they were not claimed. 'Council staff make every effort to identify the owner of any property left unattended. They initially leave notices requiring the individual to remove their items.' Auckland Council compliance manager Adrian Wilson. Photo / Marika Khabazi / RNZ Social services have warned of worsening poverty, due to economic hardship. On Tuesday, Auckland Council's Community Committee will discuss a report that updates the number of homeless living on Auckland's streets. The number of homeless people rose to 809 in May this year - a 90% increase since last September. This followed the release of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development's latest Homelessness Insights Report, which showed 14 percent of people leaving emergency housing were likely homeless. The council report identified two key risks in response to the data provided by outreach services. Increased rough sleeping, resulting in additional costs being incurred to engage, monitor and connect to social services. Acknowledging the council's role in homelessness, and continued co-ordination and investment into the sector that supports those suffering homelessness would manage the situation, but not fully mitigate it. Increased unmet mental health needs, potentially creating perceptions of unsafe environments in public spaces and within public facilities. It said continued advocacy to central government for increased resourcing to support the needs was an ongoing need. Auckland Council received more than 500 requests from the public related to rough sleepers in the past 10 months. Head of community impact Dickie Humphries said these ranged from concern about a person's welfare to reporting bylaw infringements and blocked doorways. He said the increase in rough sleepers was concerning. 'We are here to make sure that the city in this region is a thriving city for all and Auckland is experiencing homelessness [that] is the antithesis of that vision, so we find it very concerning. 'The causes are complex, and what we're hearing from our agencies and what our observations are, is worsening social and economic conditions for people, but that is felt most acutely for those who are already quite vulnerable or on the margins.' He said the council was working with social service organisations to respond to concerns from residents and actively patrol the city. 'We do have constraints on our resources and the best way to make inroads on this is to do it together. 'No one institution, no one organisation can solve this alone, so [getting] more value out of our offer here from Auckland Council to the region will come through the partnerships that we have.' - RNZ
