A man has received minor injuries after the ute he was driving rolled near Opotiki this afternoon. 

Emergency services were called to the single vehicle crash on State Highway 2 between Woodlands Road and Dunlop Road in Opotiki.

A fire communications spokesperson says one man was taken to Whakatane hospital with minor injuries. 

Preliminary inquiries by Police indicate that the death of Caleb Dean Henry, 20, who died after an exchange
of shots with Police on the North Shore yesterday, was not a suicide.

Police yesterday finished their examination of the scene near Sunset Road, on Auckland's North Shore, where the vehicle driven by Mr Henry came to a stop following a lengthy pursuit by Police. Shots were exchanged at the scene between Police and Mr Henry, who later died after sustaining injuries during the incident.

The Police investigations include an examination of Police policy, practice and procedures, in addition to the ongoing homicide investigation and inquiries in the Bay of Plenty, Auckland and Waikato. It is likely that it will take several weeks before the outcome of those inquiries is known.

Police officers involved in yesterday's exchange of shots remain on duty and are receiving appropriate support as required.

The body of Mr Henry has now been released to his family, with a private burial ceremony to take place later this week. The family have requested privacy at this time.

Meanwhile  the victims of the traumatic home invasion  remain in hospital in a 'comfortable' condition.

Alan and Anne Looney released a statement this afternoon saying

The man who was shot dead by police after he lead them on a 350km police chase early this morning has been named as ex soldier, Caleb Dean Henry, 20, from Opotiki.

Caleb Dean Henry, 20, from Opotiki

An Opotiki dairy farm company and its director have been fined $37,000 for discharging effluent from a pond where it entered a roadside drain.

The farm’s director has also been ordered to complete a dairy farm effluent management course within 12 months.

Riverlock Farms of Waioeka Road, Opotiki and farm manager Geoffrey Thomas Brown were sentenced in Rotorua District Court this week. The offences relate to effluent overflowing from an underpass effluent pond at the farm in July 2012.

The farm has been operating for more than 20 years, milking about 1450 cows. In December last year Riverlock Farms, Geoffrey Brown and his brother Ian were fined a total of $74,000 plus costs for discharging contaminated underpass liquid to waterways in October 2011. They were also convicted and discharged on a charge of breaching an enforcement order imposed as part of a 2010 offence.

While preparing evidence for last year’s defended hearing, a Council officer found the farm’s underpass pond overflowing into the roadside drain. Samples showed high bacterial (faecal coliform) readings.

High levels indicate the water is unsafe for most uses. The discharge entered one of the drains which flows to the Waioeka River and out to sea. The river is a habitat for indigenous fish species and blue duck, a whitebait spawning site and a regionally significant trout habitat and fishery.

The Court heard that there had been two previous prosecutions for effluent overflows at the farm.
The most recent offence occurred because of the defendant’s failure to adequately monitor the underpass pond and ensure levels were maintained to avoid overflow.
Judge Jeff Smith said the penalty would have been higher had the defendants not made significant improvements to the farm’s effluent system, including installing three new storage ponds.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council Operations, Monitoring and Regulation Committee Chairman Malcolm Whitaker said the defendants should have been aware of the legal requirement to ensure dairy effluent did not get into waterways.

“This conviction and penalty is a clear message that discharges of this nature are not acceptable. As a Regional Council we are very concerned that some dairy farmers running large herds are not paying enough attention to effluent management, or recognising the harm they can do to the environment, he said.

“The defendants in this case were well aware of their previous compliance issues and they were well informed of the need for particular care in monitoring and managing their effluent pond levels. They failed to improve their vigilance to avoid the same problems recurring.

“Farmers have many sources of advice and information on effluent management, either through the Regional Council or from farming organisations, such as Fonterra and DairyNZ, so there is no excuse for continuing to have discharges of this nature happening in our region,” he said.

The total fire ban which has been in force in the Whakatane and Opotiki Districts since 29 January will be lifted, as from Tuesday 23 April 2013.

Principal Rural Fire Officer Neal Yeates says that following significant rainfalls across the area in recent days, a total fire ban is no longer needed.

“The public are reminded though that the Opotiki District Council Rural Fire District has an all-year restricted fire season, which means that anyone wishing to light a fire in the open air must first obtain a permit from the Opotiki District Council,” Mr Yeates says.

“The Whakatane District Council Rural Fire Authority will also be extending its restricted fire season through until 31 May 2013, so again, anyone wanting to light a fire in the open air between now and the end of May must first obtain a permit from the Whakatane District Council.”

Any enquiries should be made to the relevant Council – Opotiki District Council, tel. 07 315 3030; Whakatane District Council, tel. 07 306 0500.

Photo: Cameron Avery

The Tauranga based TrustPower TECT rescue helicopter was called to the Waioeka Gorge south of Opotiki where a 38 year old Whakatane man had twisted his knee while out hunting.

One of his hunting companions walked out this morning to raise the alarm. They had spent the night in a temporary bivoac as the injured man could not walk the ragged terrain back to the Manganuku Hut. 

The rescue helicopter landed at the track end near S.H. 2 to pick up the injured hunters companion to then locate the injured man. 

Once located a St John paramedic was lowered down to the injured man and the patient and paramedic where winched into the helicopter using the Port of Tauranga rescue winch. The patient was flown out to a waiting ambulance and then taken to Whakatane hospital for treatment.

The Tauranga based TrustPower TECT Rescue helicopter was called to Te Kaha lastnight after a  34year-old local man was suffering chest pain.

He was transported from the Te Kaha medical centre to Whakatane for further treatment, is condition was moderate.   Pilot Liam Brettkelly says. 

The flight was carried out using Night Vision equipment.

The Tauranga based TrustPower TECT Rescue helicopter was called to Te Kaha today after a van rolled.

The crash occured south of Te Kaha.

A 62 year old local man received head, chest, back and shoulder injuries in the crash, he was flown to Tauranga hospital in a serious condition.

Three other occupants in the van received moderate injuries and were treated at the Te Kaha medical centre.

Fire fighters and a helicopter are tackling a scrub fire near Opotiki.

Fire communications shift manage Jaron Phillips says the fire is about 30x40 meters wide and on a steep hill side.

"A helicopter has also been called in to asst and rural fire are also on scene." Phillips said.

A fire ban for the entire  East Coast remains in place due to the lack of rain fall these past two months.

Two people have been taken to hospital with serious injuries after a serious crash near Te Kaha. 

A tramper has died this afternoon after falling down a bank and hitting his head in the Waioeka gorge area near Opotiki.

The 75-year-old man from Tauranga was one of a group of 11 trampers who left at 9.30am this morning for a day tramp. They were heading for the Nikau Flats Hut where they planned to have lunch before returning.

The man fell approximately 20 metres at around 12.15pm. An emergency beacon was set off by the group and the majority of them then waited by the river for help to arrive. Two of the party started walking out to raise the alarm an alternative way. The Gisborne Rescue helicopter responded to the beacon. They contacted the Police and flew the tramping party out.

A second helicopter from Whakatane then flew police officers and a paramedic in and the deceased man was winched out at approximately 6.30pm.

The matter will now be referred to the Coroner.

The man will not be named until next of kin have been informed.

Eastern Bay of Plenty Police are investigating an incident in Opotiki in the early hours of this morning which has left a man in Whakatane Hospital with stab wounds.

Detective Senior Sergeant Greg Standen, officer in charge of the Eastern Bay of Plenty CIB says Police were called to a Church Street address in Opotiki where it's alleged a 24 year old man was stabbed by three offenders following an altercation at a private function.

"The victim suffered a number of stab wounds to his back and lower body and is currently being treated for these injuries in Whakatane Hospital. His condition does not appear to be life threatening at this stage."

Three men, two aged 16 and one aged 22 years, are appearing in the Whakatane District Court this afternoon charged with various offences including wounding with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

"We are continuing our enquiries into this incident and have a number of people still to talk to. Luckily the victim's condition does now not appear to be life threatening."

Police would like to hear from anyone with any information in relation to this incident. Anyone with information should either phone Opotiki Police on (07) 315 1112, Whakatane Police (07) 308 5255 or phone Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) advises that a short section of the Waioeka Gorge at Oponae on State Highway 2 will close for short periods from 30 July – 3 August 2012 to enable the removal of hazardous trees overhanging the highway.