Wānaka police have had a busy week, which included responding to a fatal accident on Anderson Road on Saturday afternoon (July 6).  

Police are still appealing to anyone who might have witnessed the crash, in which a 25-year-old tourist from Japan was killed, or who might have dashcam footage. If you can help, please get in touch on 105 or online and reference file number 240706/6871

Read more: ‘Heavy reminder about road safety’: Police respond to fatal accident

Two children went missing in this first week of school holidays.

Police were called to Hāwea on Friday night (July 5) to help locate a young male who ran away from home, Wānaka Police Senior Sergeant Fiona (Fi) Roberts said.

“Concerns for his safety were front of mind, freezing temperatures, locating him quickly was a priority for the team,” she said. 

The Wānaka SAR dog team was deployed to assist in locating him, and Fi thanked search dog Lochy, “who has been a great asset to our local LandSAR team”.

“It’s really good to have Lochy and Dave [Krehic] adding capability to our response,” she said.

Read more: Wilderness rescue dog Lochy lends a paw

On Monday afternoon police responded to a missing 12-year-old, a visitor to the area, on Mt Iron.

Both children were found safe and well.

Family harm

A Hāwea man was arrested on five breaches of a protection order, and is on bail to appear in the Queenstown District Court in August.

Thief detained at Auckland Airport

A French tourist who had been visiting Wānaka is being investigated for 14 counts of theft by a person in a special relationship and one count of shoplifting.

Thanks to the retail crime intelligence platform Auror, the man was apprehended as he tried to leave the country in Auckland. 

“He has now settled his debt,” Fi said, adding that the apprehension was thanks to “really good work by the team”.

Operation Hannah coming to skifields

Police will be at local skifields over the coming months making sure vehicles and drivers are safe to be on the roads.

Operation Hannah is a multi-site operation targeting vehicles in and around ski fields including passenger services vehicles, the Impairment Prevention Team, and the Commercial Vehicle Unit. 

Eleven-year-old Hannah Francis was killed when a bus carrying 31 passengers crashed near Tūroa ski field in 2018. NZ Police were given permission from the Francis and Bruton families to undertake this operation in Hannah’s name.

“Our local team will focus on improving both vehicle safety and work-related road safety through road safety prevention, compliance and education,” Fi said.

“We want everyone to be able to experience and enjoy New Zealand’s great outdoors, more importantly, we want everyone travelling on our roads to do so safely.”

Road policing

There were lots of reports of black ice across the area on Saturday (July 6) which resulted in three vehicle crashes on Maungawera Hill SH6 between Albert Town and Wānaka. 

“In a separate incident a vehicle rollover was responded to on Kane Road Hāwea,” Fi said.

She said there have been many vehicle related incidents over the last week, and advised people to be aware of the extra hazards on the road (including sunstrike, ice, rain, and snow) at this time of year.

“Be cautious,” she said.

“It is even more important to watch your speed and drive to the conditions. Carry chains all winter and know when and how to fit them. Especially if you’re driving over the Crown Range Road - you will need them.”

Call 111 when you need an emergency response from police, fire or ambulance.

Call 105 to report things that don’t need urgent police assistance.

Call *555 to report road incidents that are urgent but not life-threatening.

To make an anonymous crime report contact Crime Stoppers.