Murder Of British Woman Jacqueline Blackbourn, Trial Underway

The trial of the man accused of the murder and rape of British immigrant, Jacqueline Blackbourn, got underway at Auckland Crown Court today. The man has already pleaded guilty to a charge of arson.
The Crown said in its opening statement that Jacqueline had been raped, strangled and stabbed to death before being set alight in her Glenfield home.

A knife had been plunged into her chest with such force that it when through her sternum. Siobhan Buckley told the court that Jacqueline's boyfriend could not accept the fact that their two year relationship was over and was "relentless in his attempts" to get her back.

A former girlfriend of the accused was in tears when she told about three incidents in which

"household items were smashed and she was physically or verbally assaulted.
After one dinner party she said the accused went "absolutely crazy", dragging her down the hallway before pushing her up against the kitchen bench and putting his hands around her throat.
"I thought he was going to kill me for sure. I was terrified really," she said.
Under cross-examination, the woman admitted that she hadn't called police or sought medical attention after the incidents.
"I'd say nine out of 10 women who get beat don't go to police," she told the court..." source

Ms Blackbourn was found in her burning house in Glenfield, North Shore in June 2010. At the time of the accused man's  arrest, news reports said a 28 year old man had appeared in court and

Police said that Ms Blackbourn, 43, suffered a violent death inside the View Road, Glenfield, house on the night of June 26. Police said the man, who has interim name suppression, was also charged with historical offences that related to another female complainant.  These included injuring with intent to injure, assault with intent to injure, assault with a weapon and intentional damage...
...Ms Blackbourn came to New Zealand from England 20 years ago.”

In our blog of 30 June 2010 we reported that the NZ Herald said that Jacqueline had recently split up with her partner, Steve Ellis. He was severely burned in the fire was found outside the property wearing only his underpants. Her former boyfriend, Karl Hawthorne, told reporters that Ms Blackbourn:

“worked in the accounts section of Harvey Norman at Wairau Park, was “the life of the party” and loved dancing, Mr Hawthorne said.
She missed her family, who were all overseas.
“She was really close to her mum,” he said. “There wouldn’t have been two days go by that she wasn’t in contact with her.”
Another friend, Margie Cardwell, described Ms Blackbourn as an “English rose”. “She was really feminine and girly, looked quite young for her age. She had a heart of gold.”
Ms Blackbourn’s brother, Tommaso Cerullo, yesterday left a heartfelt message for her on a social networking website.
“Rest in peace my darling sister. Love you and always will. You will never be forgotten in my heart or soul, miss you so much.
“To all the people that had the pleasure of having their heart lifted by her kindness and her smile, thank you for being there for her.”
Detective Senior Sergeant Kim Libby, of North Shore CIB, said police officers hoped to speak to Mr Ellis in the next couple of days.
His injuries were not life-threatening, he added.
They would continue combing the scene of the fire today. A post mortem examination has been carried out on Ms Blackbourn, but police have declined to reveal the cause of death, saying only that it was violent.”

Our deepest sympathies are again extended to Jacqueline’s family and friends for their terrible loss. Our thoughts are with you all in the difficult days that lie ahead during the trial.
Domestic Violence a problem in New Zealand
Far from being the safe haven it wishes to present to the world, life in New Zealand is a misery for hundreds of thousands of women, a third of them have been affected by domestic violence at some time during their lives.
New Zealand has an appalling record for domestic violence and some of the highest preventable child death stats in the developed world.  After a spike in referrals to Women's refuges after the shock of the All Black defeat in the 2007 Rugby World Cup, refuges were on standby for an influx if New Zealand lost again in 2011.
NZ’s appalling record for domestic violence is shamed by an international human rights group

"Police statistics show a 15% increase in the number of family violence incidents and offences in 2007-08, with more than 86,000 reports made. They say family violence affects a third of all women during their lifetime and that 45% of murders in New Zealand are family violence-related.

Meanwhile, a second report calling for an overhaul of systems to keep women and girls safe is being presented alongside the New York findings. The report, by a newly-formed local group called the Roundtable of Violence Against Women, says certain types of violence and victims are being overlooked. This includes prostitutes who come from countries known for trafficking, such as Korea, Thailand, Eastern Europe and the Philippines.

It also highlights the "serial abuse" of many immigrant women, saying both Women's Refuge and the Shakti Community Council have evidence that men are using women's residency status to exploit them and keep them in abusive relationships..." April 2009 source

For more read our blogs tagged violence against women.
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Another Armed Offenders Call Out In NZ - Auckland

It’s been a busy period for the Armed Offenders Squad.

Three  days ago there was an armed robbery of a pub in Point Chev that led to an AOS stand off in the residential area of Flatbush, 20kms away.

Then this morning they cordoned off roads and surrounded a house in Pakuranga Road, South Auckland. Witnesses said the police were negotiating with a person holed-up in a property. The incident is thought to have ended without injury or loss of life. See “Another dickhead on the lose in Panmure“

The day finished with call out to the North Shore suburb of Hllcrest, another quiet residential area:

“About 20 police officers including members of the armed offenders and dog squad were seen packing down and leaving from Coronation Rd at 4.10pm. Police earlier received a report about a man waving a rifle in the area around 2pm, detective Shane Page says.
The police Eagle helicopter and patrol cars surveyed the area and access to part of Coronation Rd and nearby Velma Rd and McFetridge Pl was blocked. Road blocks forced some students from surrounding schools to take a longer route home. Nearby Marlborough Primary and Sunnybrae Normal Schools were on lock down as a precaution until the end of the school day. “

Is there something in the water, or is this just the silly season for nutters with guns? There’s thought to be at least 1.1 legally owned million firearms in New Zealand so the odds are that something, or someone, is going to kick-off sooner or later.
See also:
Family row led to shots being fired from house -  “A Pukehina Beach man at the centre of an armed police seige after he fired several gun shots has been sentenced to 100 hours’ community work and six months’ supervision. Shaun Albert Cockburn, 39, who earlier pleaded guilty to charges of discharging a firearm near a house was sentenced in Tauranga District Court yesterday.” 23 June 2010

Armed police called out in Southland – “An Armed Offenders Squad (AOS) call-out, an unprovoked assault which left a man unconscious, and an aggravated dairy robbery at knife point kept Invercargill police busy overnight.  At 8.50pm police received a 111 call from Bluff, reporting that a man with a weapon was threatening to kill the two other people at a property — another man and a woman.” 10 June 2010

Police seek man after armed offenders called out - “Police say the AOS was sent out on Saturday morning to a rural property where it was thought there had been an altercation between a man and his nephew. They say the women who called them had fled the house saying she had fears for a young man after her partner had assaulted him and threatened him with a firearm.” 15 May 2010
Norsewood gunman puts lower North Island into lockdown – “Residents of the lower north island towns of Dannevirke, Ormondville and Takapau have been advised to stay inside, lock their doors and stay away from windows after a body was found in a car abandoned by a gunman on the run. Police closed State Highway 2 between Norsewood and Waipukurau while they hunted for the man who had also fired at police and shot at a farm worker, injuring him in the arm. The offender was described as a European, aged 46 and highly dangerous. He was later named as David John Bourke from Wanganui.” 5 October 2009

Armed sieges and gun politics in NZ – “An armed stand-off in Chaucer Road South, Napier that started yesterday morning continues into today. A routine cannabis bust went horribly wrong when the suspect, Jan Molenaar, shot dead policeman Len Snee, 53 and critically injured 3 other people yesterday in the small tourist town of Napier, famed for its art deco architecture. Len Snee was the fifth police officer to have been shot dead since the Aramoana massacre of 1990 and one of 29 officers to have died as a result of a criminal act in New Zealand.” 7 May 2009

Armed robberies in NZ

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Migrant Tales - Emigrating When You're Older

 Continuing in our series of Migrants’ Tales – first hand accounts of the migrant experience in New Zealand taken from locations around the net.

Today’s Tale is taken from the self help and support forum for migrants Expatexposed.com:
In it the British poster talks about what it was like to migrate to New Zealand as an older person, and why they left after two years of struggling to live in the North Shore, Auckland – an upmarket area very popular with immigrants from both Europe and Asia:.

“My wife and I are in our mid 50s and returned to UK last month after nearly 2 yrs living & working (and struggling) on Auckland’s North Shore. We, too, experienced many similar aspects of work life as you say you have, and that was certainly a large factor in our own deciding to bail out.

e have now decided to look on the last 2 years as having had an adventure, although it’s very tempting to mirror your own view of it all as really having been a waste of time. Certainly one thing we noticed was how every one seemed to be, as I put it, “Desperate For Every Last Dollar“, and that’s probably why so many NZ workplaces often seem to want more than their pound of flesh. It’s a poorer economy, of course, than that of the UK or even OZ, and this spins off in so many ways throughout Kiwi workplaces, the standard of living and lifestyles. The tourist brocures etc don’t show this side of the coin, and I’m really sorry that your experience hasn’t worked out, but I do hope that at least when you return to the UK you will have the advantage of being back in a country and culture etc. which you presumably grew up in and are 100% accustomed to. Good Luck!

It certainly was an adventure in being resourceful, in learning how reticent many folks were where we lived, in coping with so many exasperating aspects that grew more frustrating as time went by.
I’m talking about things such as paying income tax on every single dollar we earned, neighbours who kept their selves to their selves to the point where they never even passed the time of day over the garden fence; no central heating in our house with no curtains, no double glazing, no insulation and not even a fireplace or wood burner, invading bush cockroaches, choking and filthy car exhausts(Clean Green NZ???!!!), wages around 25% or more under what we earned in the UK, overall cost of living up to 30% more; careless designs such as no overflow vents in sinks and baths, no individual plug fuses – and a spur domestic electricity wiring system which a Kiwi sparky agreed is less safe than the UK’s fused plugs and ring main system; social starvation/isolation because Kiwis tend to stick to family and close childhood friends only, ugly warehouse retail sprawl on the North Shore and appallingly dangerous road marking and signs systems that obviously haven’t been given more than a moment’s thought by planning departments only too anxious to flee the office at 4pm sharp in search of their beloved bachs, BBQs, BMWs and boats.

What made us roar with laughter was when we heard radio adverts in the daytime advertising a brothel…. yet at the same time a woman was admonished by North Shore City Council for sunbathing topless!!
Roll with it.

Just a few of the things that more than peeved us as time went by.”

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Rights Of The Victim V. Rights Of The Accused In New Zealand

Or “The Nerds Strike Back”-  Birkenhead Burglars, Burglary in New Zealand; one citizen’s attempt to achieve justice when the law failed him.



Why didn’t the police do the investigation work that Dave Crowther did? they could have found and detained the thieves without the embarrassment of  Mr Crowther having to resort to using the internet to track them down.

Are burglaries on the North Shore so frequent that police have given up trying to apprehend the culprits?

For background see our New Zealand Crime Information and Statistics page and recent stories about vigilante action in New Zealand.

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Immigrants Face Third World Living Conditions In New Zealand

Lincoln Tan, the immigration affairs reporter for the NZ Herald has written about the desperate financial plight of immigrants in New Zealand who have been reduced to living in vehicles. Some can’t even afford campsite fees.

The insanitary conditions, often lacking basics such as hot water and electricity are absolutely, positively third world.

With the cold long winter setting in, living conditions are set to become even more miserable for many people as skilled professionals from OECD countries become New Zealand’s new ‘trailer trash‘.

Those not forced into either living rough on the streets or in vans, are crammed illegally into over-crowded houses. A three bedroom house in the affluent North Shore is home to 11 people - three families sharing one property.

“Well at least they’ve got a safe, warm roof over their heads” you’d think? Not necessarily, the condition of some NZ homes isn’t much better than vans  (see Toxic Homes Still a Nightmare for Many in New Zealand) and 250,000 New Zealand homes are so damp, cold and poorly insulated that they ruin people’s health.

Once more, it’s a story of more lives ruined by emigration and of bait and switch. The reality of the ‘Kiwi dream’ is a far cry from the  images used to attract migrants from countries such as Singapore (see A Singaporean Says Living in NZ a Different Experience)

This is what appeared in The Herald:

“Cheng Goh, of Settlement Support North Shore, says high rents have resulted in many people struggling to keep a roof over their heads. Some had become really desperate.

Unlike locals, who could move in with family and friends, newly arrived immigrants faced limited options on who they could turn to, she said.

“It’s quite sad to see people who come here to set up a new life, only to have their lives turned upside down,” said Ms Goh.

“It’s just unfortunate that when you come at the wrong time, everything seems to work against you.”

She said many failed to do enough planning for their New Zealand move and under-budgeted. The recession – which cost many migrants their jobs – and high rents had aggravated the situation.

A migrant worker from Russia said he spent his last $1500 in February on a van which had now become his home.
“Before I bought the van, I had nowhere to go and I had been sleeping on the streets since I lost my job last year, but I knew winter was coming and this is the cheapest way to make sure I have shelter,” he said.

The former engineer, who has a work permit that runs until September next year, says he knows which office and commercial buildings have shower facilities that he can use early in the mornings before workers arrive.

A 33-year-old German architect, who was made redundant a month after she gained her New Zealand residency last year, said she had been living in a $1200 van with her partner, also unemployed, since Christmas.

“I have to think positive. I came here with dreams to own my own home, and the van is my first home,” she said. “It is temporary and I can it take with me anywhere.”

An unemployed woman from the Philippines who has two children is sharing a three-bedroom rental house with two other families.

She did not want to be identified because the landlord did not know that 11 people were living at his North Shore property.

Before people give up their comfortable lifestyles in other countries for the ‘Kiwi dream’ they should know:

The settlement support co-ordinator at Auckland Regional Migrant Services, Bevan Chuang, said it was hard for new migrants because those who had been here for less than two years were not eligible for support from Work and Income.
“So these people have got no choice but to find ways to help themselves if they want to stay in New Zealand.”

But all these people came to New Zealand because they were led to believe that there are skills shortages in their areas of work. Why are they not working and why are people like them still being attracted to emigrate?  (see the Singapore link above)

Skilled emigrants should be asking themselves – Is NZ worth the effort, why bother? aren’t there other countries that offer us a far better deal?!

See also: Phillipines Warns Citizens About NZ Work To Residence Scheme -

“Philippines consul-general Emilie Shi says Immigration New Zealand is not doing enough to warn would-be applicants about the difficulties of finding a job or telling them that Kiwis will be given preference by employers.

“Immigration New Zealand continues to say what a great place this country is to come live and work in, but they cover up the fact that it is very difficult to find a job here, or that they will be treated as second-class workers under the scheme,” Ms Shi said…”

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North Shore School Security Guard Mugged, Shot In Face

A security guard at Onepoto Primary School in the affluent suburb of  North Shore, Auckland was shot in a the face after he was attacked by a teenager demanding money on Friday evening.

Despite the guards protestations that he had  no cash on him the young thug shot him four times in the face and arms with an airgun. Read the report here

Official police figures show that during 2009 violent crime rose by 9.2% for the whole of new Zealand with 65,465 offences being recorded. The number of recorded homicide offences leaped from 23 to 134, with 65 recorded murders in 2009 compared to 13 in 2008.

But what does this escalation of violent crime mean on a local level for the residents in suburbs that were once thought of as relatively safe and  ‘great places to raise kids’ ?

You may remember the story of a Beach Haven mother who was disgusted at random acts of violent that were ruling the streets of her community. Beach Haven is just to the west of Northcote where Onepoto primary school is situated.

The mother said she considered it a lovely, sunny place that didn’t feel violent but had been hearing of regular incidents of thuggery and had found out (through Facebook) that two young boys were beaten up at 6am on morning as they waited for a bus on Rangatira Rd.

One had his nose broken, eye-socket cracked and three teeth knocked out. His shoes and cellphone were stolen. See Street attack fuels fears:

“Beach Haven community constable Grant Kenny says police haven’t been able to identify the offenders. The case is on hold unless they receive new information, he says.
Liz says Beach Haven and Birkdale have a sad reputation already.
“Why exactly do we have this random violence ruling the streets of Beach Haven?” she says.
“There has got to be a better way to sort it out than simply moving to Takapuna.”

Even Takapuna has its problems though, in September of last year a man walked into Rodney Wayne hairdressers in the Westfield Shopping Centre with a shotgun and robbed the staff, punching one of them in the throat.

To our knowledge no one has been arrested in connection with that incident either and we suspect that gang activity is now well entrenched in the neighbourhood.

Random savage attacks in North Shore linked to Killer Beez Gang expansion bid (January 2008)

"New Zealand's fastest-growing gang has spread to the North Shore, and is linked to this week's hyper-violent attacks.

The Weekend Herald has learned that one of those charged with the attacks, an 18-year-old from Glenfield, has a close family connection to the North Shore "recruiter" for the street gang, known as the Killer Beez, that started in the South Auckland suburb of Otara and now has followers throughout the city

North Shore Mayor Andrew Williams last night described the gang’s presence as “disturbing“.

He said he would meet police next week to make sure street gangs did not get a foothold on the North Shore, and wanted to tell the Killer Beez or any of their counterparts considering crossing the bridge it was no “soft touch“.
Police investigating Wednesday’s attacks have raised the possibility that they were done as a “prospecting” exercise for the Killer Beez…”

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Albany Armed Robbery Same Day As Paremoreomo Prison Escape

News outlets have recently been given details of an armed robbery that took place at the Westfield shopping mall at Albany, North Shore last Wednesday. The robbery of a security van came within hours of the escape of a prisoner from a nearby prison.

Police are downplaying a possible link between the two events but it does seem strange that news of the hold-up wasn't released to the media until Friday, two days after the event.


Two heavily disguised men robbed the van at around 10.20am and made their get away in a car that had been stolen from Mairangi Bay and which was later found in the underground car park at The Warehouse.

The route from Auckland prison to Albany

View Larger Map
Other armed robberies in Albany this year include the National Bank in August and the ANZ in July. For more details of these and many, many other similar crimes please see "Armed robberies in NZ"

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Attempted Abduction In Gelnfield, North Shore

Glenfield is fast becoming Auckland's most dangerous place north of the Harbour Bridge. It's taken a while for the story to get out but it would appear a 14 year old girl fought off a would be abductor on 5th August. The man tried to snatch her as she walked along Seaview Road at around 4.30pm in the evening. Back in February there was another attempted kidnapping of an 11 year old girl in nearby Beach Haven.

Some other recent Glenfield related crimes include the stabbing murder of Paul Chong in View Road, a group of teenagers who were attacked and their car damaged on Glenfield Road, a gang of 4 young thugs from the suburb who beat-up two young couples in Milford and Takapuna and an Iranian buisness owner left in a coma and with severe facial wounds after an attack in Wairau Road.

North Shore Attacks, Trial Starts (updated) - Guilty Pleas Entered

17 August
In January of 2008 two particularly brutal and seemingly unprovoked attacks took place in North Shore, Auckland.

A young couple Ericka Rancourt, 21, and Oskar Carroll, 25, were minding their own business and quietly walking home in Lake Rd at around 4am on the 15th when they were viciously attacked by a gang of men. Ericka was so badly injured that she needed brain surgery.

Just hours before a Russian couple, Denis Khotchenko and his girlfriend Lera Nesterova were sitting in their car in Milford when they were set upon, allegedly by the same gang. They were beaten with a baseball bat, Ms Nesterova's eye socket and one of her fingers was broken before she managed to escape by swimming the Milford inlet to find refuge in the home of a local resident. Mr Khotchenko was also injured and beaten around the head.

Also on the same evening there was said to be an attack on a boy on Takapuna beach but it is unclear if this is included in this trial.

At the time of the attacks press reports stated that four Glenfield youths and a youth from Piha were arrested in connection with the attack on the two couples.
Today the trial of the accused began: Piri Valli Kirton, 18, Harlem Haynui Kirton 19, Jono Paul Wilson, 20, and Ruaumoko Taiapa, 21, are jointly charged with aggravated robbery, causing grievous bodily harm, injuring with intent to injure, and assault with intent to rob.
Taiapa is also charged with one count of injuring with intent to injure (source New Zealand Herald)
This trial is going to attract a lot of attention - unprovoked attacks in North Shore are relatively uncommon events and many feel revulsion at the injuries the victims received, especially the women. At the time there was some speculation about the attacks being linked to a gang expansion bid. See : "Savage attacks linked to gang expansion bid"

Update 19 August

Today all four accused entered guilty pleas, Kiriana Taiapa, the mother of one of the four accused, also pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact. She admitted to trying to get rid of 3 metals bars used in the attack. Full details here North Shore attack accused plead guilty

Update 20 August

Evidence from the prosecution continued today and more details about the terrible night of violence emerged, including the assaults on the two separate couples and Daniel Sawfford, a young man cycling along Taharoto Rd at 1am. Evidence was given that the young thugs had watched the movie "American Gangster" before leaving the house looking for trouble in North Shore, Auckland. More here: "Gangster film sets the scene"

'Savage attacks linked to gang expansion'

19 Jan 2008 Weekend NZ Herald

"New Zealand's fastest-growing gang has spread to the North Shore, and is linked to this week's hyper-violent attacks.

The Weekend Herald has learned that one of those charged with the attacks, an 18-year-old from Glenfield, has a close family connection to the North Shore "recruiter" for the street gang, known as the Killer Beez, that started in the South Auckland suburb of Otara and now has followers throughout the city.

North Shore Mayor Andrew Williams last night described the gang's presence as "disturbing".
He said he would meet police next week to make sure street gangs did not get a foothold on the North Shore, and wanted to tell the Killer Beez or any of their counterparts considering crossing the bridge it was no "soft touch"

Police investigating Wednesday’s attacks have raised the possibility that they were done as a “prospecting” exercise for the Killer Beez…”

Armed Robberies In NZ

Armed robberies are not isolated incidents in New Zealand, just the opposite they're now becoming incredibly frequent, hardly a week day goes by without us hearing about one and things are getting worse. In 2008 there were a total of 1,160 recorded aggravated robberies, of which 163 were firearm related and 223 used a stabbing or cutting weapon (source NZ statistics) which means that thousands of innocent members of the public and people at work have been affected by armed robberies in NZ, which is appalling for a country that markets itself as having a low crime rate.

Below is a list (highlighted to show whether a firearm or other weapon was used) of armed robberies that have been publicly notified (a significant number don't make it into the news) in 2009 and 2010 from non-domestic premises. It's becoming evident that these incidents are occurring all over the country, not just in Auckland. This post will be updated as each new robbery becomes known about; we're now adding links to these stories for those who use this site for research.

20 March: Supersave and Speciality Store. SWANSON. woman held at gunpoint and assaulted by two men in their teens, 5.15pm link 19 March: Woman held-up at ATM Machine. Albany, NORTH SHORE weapon unknown, midday link
11 March: Wordsworth Superette, MANUREWA, 7.15 2 males knife and firearm link
10 March: Crook & Flail Bar and Casino, Meadowlands Drive, HOWICK. 11.40pm, knives link
10 March: Video Ezy, HAVELOCK NORTH, man with spanner stole cash, 9.40pm link;
9 March: Pricecutter, Bridge Street, HUNTLY: 3 youths with pistols and iron bar, 7.45pm link
4 March: National Bank ATM, Kepa Road, AUCKLAND, Armourguard employees held-up in front of shoppers, details of weapons not released by police. 12.30pm link
1 Mar: Racecourse Dairy, Green Lane East, AUCKLAND. worker held up with gun, 5pm  link
28 Feb: Massage parlour, Central WELLINGTON, 'Maid' held up by men with pistol link
21 Feb: Harper Street Dairy, WANGANUI, mother and daughter working in shop taken to hospital, no info on weapons, 5.10pm link
12 Feb:  ASB Bank, OTAHUHU, Armourguard Robbery. Single barrel firearm used, 4.40pm link
10 Feb: Pizza Delivery worker, HENDERSON, teenager with a knife link
3 Feb: ANZ Bank, Marewa, NAPIER, man with gun threatened to shoot staff, 12.25pm. link
31 Jan: Taxi Driver, Hiren Mohin during a robbery link
27 Jan: Bank, TEMUKA. firearm link
26 Jan: Trident Tavern, ONEHUNGA, men with guns, 10am. link
25 Jan: Redwood Dairy,UPPER HUTT, 4pm. Molotov Cocktail used to set fire to shop! 4pm link
25 Jan: Post Shop, WAIPUKURAU, Central Hawkes Bay, 9.27am. No info on weapon link
21 Jan: ANZ Bank, Gladstone, GISBORNE, (knife) link
17 Jan: Shell Service Station,  EDGECUMBE. Two men shot at police link
6 Jan:Caltex Service Station,  Bishopdale, NELSON. midnight (two men with a knife) link
5 Jan: Taxi driver, Wycliffe St, NAPIER. 9.45pm (man with gun) link 
2 Jan: Mount Paper Power Lotto Shop, MOUNT MAUNGANUI, 2.55pm sawn-off .22 rifle used link

2009
29 Dec: Bellbird Arms Tavern, McAnnalley Street, MANUREWA, 3 men with shotgun. 12.20pm. link
28 Dec: Kawaha Point Dairy, ROTORUA, 4pm. Youth with knife.  link

28 Dec:  Tip Top Store, BLENHEIM, 5.40pm two men with knives. link
24 Dec: ASB Bank, Mount Roskill, AUCKLAND, gun11am. link
23 Dec: 'Security Van', Westfield Mall, Albany, NORTH SHORE. Masked men, 10.20am, no info for security company, weapons or amount of money stolen. Getaway vehicle recovered from Warehouse carpark. One of the man used a hammer to threaten guards link
22 Dec: Edgeware Post Shop, CHRISTCHURCH, 5pm, gun.
22 Dec:  Miramar Post Shop, WELLINGTON, man with a firearm, 2.50pm.
18 Dec: Levesque Liquor Store, Birkdale, NORTH SHORE, teenager with knife. link

13 Dec: Crinan Street Dairy, INVERCARGILL, 2.30pm. 8th robbery at this store in 6 years, previous was in May.
11 Dec: Post-Shop, Main Street, HUNTLY, 9.38am (no info on weapon)
11 Dec: Woolworths Supermarket, Medway Street, GORE 2.40pm (no info on weapons)
7 Dec:,ANZ Bank CANTERBURY UNIVERSITY, CHRISTCHURCH. "Firearm" 2.45pm
5 Dec: Kiwibank, Chartwell, HAMILTON,  2 men threatened 12 people with rifle. 10.00am
3 Dec: Diamond House, Mangere Bridge, S.AUCKLAND, 3 men, machete and rifle, 10.15pm
22 Nov: Cannons Creek Mobil Service Station, PORIRUA 7.25pm (knife)
17 Nov:  Gull service station, WHANGAREI. 4 masked men, one with a machete.
14 Nov: Isobar, Finns Bar and Bristo, Hornby CHRISTCHURCH. Several $1,000s taken. (knife) 11pm
13 Nov: Service Station, Mana, near WHITBY, 2am (shotgun)
3 Nov: Carlisle Street Dairy off Argyll Street, TAURANGA, 10.50am (man with knife)
3 Nov: Fix Store, corner of Ghuznee and Cuba Streets WELLINGTON, 2.50am (broken bottle)

3 Nov: Armourgard Van - ANZ Bank HUNTLY, 12.12pm (shotgun) is there a connection to the recent Hamilton Robberies?
29 Oct: Travelex, Ward St, HAMILTON. (no information on weapon) 4th in Hamilton this month.
29 Oct: NZ Credit Union office, Laurence Stevens Drive, SOUTH AUCKLAND (gun)
28 Oct: The Mill Liquorsave, TARADALE, 6.30pm (worker stabbed in chest with knife)
27 Oct:  BNZ Bank, Grey S, HAMILTON (no information on weapon) 10.15pm
25 Oct: Kaukapakapa Wines and Spirits, Kaipara Coast Highway, HELENSVILLE, 7.40pm (pistol)
24 Oct: Fay's Place, Garfield Rd, HELENSVILLE, 9.40pm (pistol)
22 Oct: That Place Takeaways on Parkhurst Rd in Parakai, HELENSVILLE (pistol) 9.40pm
15 Oct: Westpac Bank, Westfield Shopping Centre, Chartwell, HAMILTON, 1.47.pm (no info. about weapon)
14 Oct: McDonalds Restaurant, DRURY, 11pm (knife)
8 Oct: BNZ Bank, Kilbirnie, WELLINGTON, noon. Linked to robbery on 5 Oct.
8 Oct: Lincoln Rd Liquor Centre, Lincoln, CHRISTCHURCH, 8.50pm (machete)
6 Oct: Cherrywood Liquor store, Cherrywood, TAURANGA (rifle)
5 Oct: Westpac Bank, Molesworth Street, WELLINGTON.
3 Oct: Pomona St Discount Store, INVERCARGILL, 1.50pm (knife held to worker's throat)
2 Oct: ASB Bank, Westfield Chartwell, HAMILTON 9.30am (offender claimed to have gun)
28 Sept: ANZ bank, Terrace End, PALMERSTON NORTH, ('long barrelled gun') 9.40am. Second robbery at this premises this month +
27 Sept: Centenial Park Store, Church Street, TIMARU. Shop worker hit over head with hammer and shot in face with airgun, 9.20pm
26 Sept: Redan Dairy, Redan Rd, KAITAIA
24 Sept: Jays Bar, Brookland Rd, ROTORUA, 11pm
23 Sept: West Force Credit Union, PAPKURA 2.30pm. Hand gun
20 Sept: Brothel, Mt Wellington, AUCKLAND around noon (BB gun) woman slightly injured
20 Sept: G & S Superette, Lyall Bay, WELLINGTON, 7.45 pm. (30cm long hunting knife)
17 Sept: Rodney Wayne Hairdressers, Westfield Shore City, Takapuna, NORTH SHORE, 8.15pm. Shotgun used, staff member punched in throat.
17 Sept: ANZ bank, Terrace End, PALMERSTON NORTH, 10.45am. ('Long barrelled gun') +
14 Sept: Westpac bank, Horomatangi Street. TAUPO around 2.30pm (no info on weapons)
13 Sept: Lyon St Dairy, Kihikihi, near TE AWAMUTU, 9pm (Female carrying a machete)
12 Sept: Dairy, MANUREWA. Owners Ranbir & Kulwant Singh violently attacked.
12 Sept: Gull Service Station, WHANGAREI (gun)
12 Sept: Hillpark Superette, Grande Vue Rd, AUCKLAND weapon not specified
12 Sept: Price Cutter superette, Vine St in MANGERE, 8.50pm (gun)
11 Sept: BNZ Bank, corner of Bentley Avenue/Glenfield Rd Glenfield, GLENFIELD 2.20pm No info on weapon used.
11 Sept: Westpac Bank, Ngongotaha, ROTORUA, two men with a pistol and shotgun.
7 Sept: Bank, Panmure AUCKLAND 11am (female with knife)
6 Sept: Night and Day store, Ferry Road, CHRISTCHURCH, 1.09am no information released about the weapon used
5 Sept: KFC restaurant, TE AWAMUTU, 11.30pm
4 Sept: Kamo Mobil Mart Service Station, Kamo Rd. WHANGAREI (knife)
3 Sept: Kiwibank, Great South Rd, PAPAKURA, 11am. (Previously robbed 25 Aug)
2 Sept: Antique Store, Dominion Road, AUCKLAND
2 Sept: Park Dairy, Acheson Avenue, CHRISTCHURCH, 7.10pm (metal bar and screwdriver)
1 Sept: Grand Vue Dairy, Great South Road, AUCKLAND
31 Augst: Ratavine Foodmarket in WIRI (2nd time)
28 Augst: Kiwibank Postshop, Dominion Rd/King Edward Street, AUCKLAND no information is being released about the weapon that was used, robbery took place around noon.
25 Augst: Strand Caltex, WANUIOMATA, 10.45pm-11.10pm. No info on weapon released
25 Augst: Kiwibank, Great South Road, PAPAKURA.
23 Augst: TAB, Point Cheavlier, AUCKLAND $13,000 stolen by man with a gun.
22 Augst: Ratavine Foodmarket, WIRI
21 Augst: Halsey Road Foodmarket, Manurewa, SOUTH AUCKLAND
14 Augst: Guthrie Bowron paint shop, Fitzgerald Ave, CHRISTCHURCH, 8.20am (knife)
14 Augst: Armourgard Van, Manurewa, SOUTH AUCKLAND, 9.35am
13 Augst: Ding Dong Dang Dairy, NORTH SHORE, 12.30pm
13 Augst: Shell Service Station, Wiri Station Rd, WIRI 6.30pm
8 Augst: Buns Bakery, Ferry Road, CHRISTCHURCH, 9pm (knife and galvanised pipe)
7 Augst: Whitecross Medical Centre, Great North Road, AVONDALE 9.40pm (metal bar)
7 Augst: National Bank, Westfield Shopping Centre, ALBANY, 2pm (pistol, customers threatened)
4 Augst: Crow Tavern, PICTON, 10.20pm
4 Augst: Westpac Bank, Main St, UPPER HUTT, 2.50pm
1 Augst: BP Connect Service Station, LOWER HUTT, 4am
1 Augst: Caltex Service Station, LOWER HUTT, 4am
1 Augst: Melbourne St Dairy, SOUTH DUNEDIN
30 July: Wespac Bank, St Martins, CHRISTCHURCH, 9am
29 July: Westpac Bank, WHAKATANE, 10.40am
28 July: Kihikihi motorcycle shop, near TE AWAMUTU, 11.20am (AOS involved)
28 July: Merlene's Dairy, PALMERSTON NORTH 11.45am
27 July: Westpac Bank, OPOTIKI, 9.38am
25 July: Taxi driver, TE ARO, days takings and cab stolen, 4.30pm
24 July: Jewellery store, TE PUKE, 11.30am
24 July: Katikati Paper Plus and Post Shop, KATIKATI, 2.25pm (sawn off shotgun)
23 July: Challenge service station, HUNTERVILLE, 9.10pm, shots fired
23 July: Valley Superette, PAPAKURA, 3.30pm
21 July: Mini Mart, MOSGIEL, night time robbery (machete)
17 July: ANZ Albany, NORTH SHORE, 2.05pm
17 July: Taxi driver stabbed and robbed, TAURANGE, early am
16 July: Village Superette, GISBORNE, just before 7am
16 July: Gossamer Liquor at Ussher Place, PAKURANGA, afternoon (machete)
15 July: ANZ Bank, FRANKTON, HAMILTON
15 July, United Video, FRANKTON, HAMILTON, 10.25pm
14 July: Suburban Store,TAHUNANUI, 6.42pm (large knife)
14 July: Howick and Eastern Buses' driver, money stolen at knifepoint
14 July: Mobil service station, TAHUNANUI, 6.52pm (large knife)
14 July: Wespac Bank, North Road, DUNEDIN, 1.45pm
12 July; Dairy, WANGANUI, 6pm. Two teenage girls armed with knives
12 July: Dairy, corner of Radley and Marshal Streets, CHRISTCHURCH, 8pm
11 July: Hills Takeaways, OTARA, 5pm
10 July: HASTINGS Darts Association, 9.30am. No information on weapons yet
9 July: Kiwibank, PALMERSTON NORTH
8 July: Bowl and Jack Tavern, CHRISTCHURCH, 9.30am. No information on weapons yet
7 July: BP Service Station, Ngaio, WELLINGTON, 9pm
3 July: Kiwi Bank, Queensgate, LOWER HUTT, 11.15am
3 July: Copper Lounge Bar, PAPAKURA, 2.40pm
30 June: Armourgard, ANZ Bank, Heretaunga Street East, HASTINGS, 7am
29 June: Kiwibank, Goodbehere St, FIELDING, 1.25pm
26 June: Victoria Dairy, Carruth Rd, PAPATOETOE, 6.20pm (rifle)
25 June: Westpac Bank, St Martins, CHRISTCHURCH
24 June: Angus Inn bottle shop, HASTINGS, 7pm
24 June: Mitcham Avenue Dairy, HAMILTON, 5.30pm
24 June: Kiwibank, Frankton, HAMILTON, 2.40pm
24 June: Westpac Bank, HAMILTON EAST, 10.10am
23 June: Kiwibank, Kuripuni, MASTERTON, 2pm
23 June: Taxi Driver, CHRISTCHURCH, pm. Driver stabbed repeatedly in neck
22 June: Worcester Tavern, Linwood, CHRISTCHURCH man robbed staff and patron, 11 am
20 June: Bedrock Bar, Addington, CHRISTCHURCH three men robbed staff & patrons,3.00am
19 June: BNZ Bank, Birkenhead, NORTH SHORE
17 June: PostShop, Mokoia Rd, Birkenhead, NORTH SHORE, 1.30pm
17 June: Kiwibank, TAKANINI, 10.40am
16 June: Armourguard van Arthur's Bar and Grill, ONEHUNGA, Akl, 1.00pm.
15 June: Spot On Dairy, GISBORNE, midday
13 June: ASB Bank, St Lukes Shopping Centre, AUCKLAND9am
13 June: ANZ Bank, UPPER HUTT, 2.20pm
12 June: ASB Bank, Blockhouse Bay, AUCKLAND 4.20pm
10 June: National Bank, Vulcan Lane, AUCKLAND, 2pm (weapon used was a screwdriver)
10 June: Caspar Dairy, PAPATOETOEe
9 June: ASB Bank, Dominion Road (Mt Roskill) AUCKLAND(Axe) 3.05pm
9 June: Kiwibank PostShop, Dominion Road, Balmoral, AUCKLAND 2.45pm
3 June: Heretaunga Hospital Store, PALMERSTON NORTH, 10am
5 June: Good Tukka Takeaway, OPOPITKI, 2 youths ages 13 & 15 arrested
5 June: Bus Driver, Lyall Bay, WELLINGTON, 8.30pm (weapon used was a screwdriver)
4 June: ANZ Bank, St Lukes, AUCKLAND
2 June: INC Technology, East Tamaki, AUCKLAND 5.18pm
29 May: TAB Dominion Road, AUCKLAND
28 May: Fairview Downs Superette, HAMILTON, 11.30.am
27 May: Armourguard van, Epsom Girls Grammar School, AUCKLAND, 2.00pm
24 May: BP Service station, WHITFORD village, 7pm
23 May: Main Street Fish n Chips, BLENHEIM, 6pm
22 May: ASB Bank, Panmure, AUCKLAND 2:30pm
18 May: Mag and Tyre Direct, New Lynn, AUCKLAND 8.30am
17 May: Pricecutter Superette, HELENSVILLE, 7.15pm
15 May: Westpac Bank, Parnell, AUCKLAND 2:45pm
14 May: Woolworths Micro @ Gull on Hewletts Rd, TAURANGA (machete)
2 May: United video, Great South Road, Manurewa, AUCKLAND 7.15 pm (baseball bat)
2 May: Westpac Bank, Kilbirnie, WELLINGTON, 11.20am
27 April: Aotea Crescent Chinese takeaway, TOKOROA at night. (* see below)
20 April: Dairy, WHANGAREI - led to a high speed chase
12 April: Shell service station, NGARUAWAHIA, 9.20pm. (Knife and baton)
11 April: Bigsave variety store, WHANGAREI (knife)
11 April: Outdoor Connection, WHANGAREI (knife)
2 April: Dairy, Lipscombe Cres. HAVELOCK NORTH. Accused was bailed & then crashed
28 March: Tower Post Office, CHRISTCHURCH, 8am
23 March: Bishopdale Discounter Dairy, CHRISTCHURCH, 7.50pm
16 March: National Bank, Manukau, S.AUCKLAND 11.45am
13 March: BNZ Bank, Manukau, S.AUCKLAND. Armourguard robbed of $200,000, 5:22pm
7 March: Alabaster Pharmacy, Merivale, CHRISTCHURCH. (Petrol poured over pharmacist)
5 March: Kingsgate TAB, Kingsgate Hotel, ROTORUA, 7.30pm
2 March: Time Zone Amusement Arcade HAMILTON, "armed"
2 March: Dissmeyer Superette, Otara, S.AUCKLAND groceries stolen
1 March: Edendale Superette, AUCKLAND cigs, ice cream and cash, 8:15am
25 February: Westpac Bank, Browns Bay, NORTH SHORE,. 11am
10 February: Il Bordello Brothel, WELLINGTON. Lone female receptionist at night
3 February: Taxi driver, Ross Crescent, HAMILTON 1.40am
2 February: ASB Bank, OREWA
1 February: New World Supermarket, CLENDON, 10am
26 January: Tiraumea Superette, PAKURANGA, 3.30pm female police officer beaten up
23 January: Dairy, Eugenia Rise Manurewa, S.AUCKLAND
19 January: Cedar Superette, Manurewa, S.AUCKLAND
16 January: Sunny Brae Dairy, Manurewa, S.AUCKLAND
14 January: 2 x Shell station, Newtown, WELLINGTON, about 5.20am and again at 9am (axe)
14 January: Caltex station, Miramar, WELLINGTON, about 8.20am (axe)
14 January: Woburn Pharmacy, Whites Line East, LOWER HUTT, 4.10pm
7 January: Westpac Bank, Onehunga, S.AUCKLAND
4 January: Wordsworth Rd superette, Manurewa, S AUCKLAND
4 January: Strawberry seller, Swanson Reserve, W.AUCKLAND, 11am
3 January: Medical Centre Pharmacy, Johnsonville, WELLINGTON, 12.20pm
New Year's eve: Shell service station, TAURANGA, weapon not specified
Also see:
Surge in brazen and violent armed robberies
* Crime victim moves out of Tokoroa because of crime
Armed robbery at girls high school

For today's posts see: latest posts

BNZ Birkenhead Bank Robbery

News of yet another bank robbery in the Auckland region, this time in the North Shore suburb of Birkenhead:

"Police are investigating a robbery at Birkenhead BNZ in Auckland early this afternoon.

North Shore Police senior sergeant Shanan Gray says police are at the scene and the bank is being secured. Mr Gray could not say whether a weapon had been used in the incident.

No further details were available."

This is the 6th bank robbery in Auckland this month.

Details of other recent armed robberies this year may be found here

Another Attempted Abduction in Auckland

Following yesterday's attempted abduction of an 11 year old girl in North Shore it has been revealed that a second kidnapping attempt was made on a 14 year old in Ravenna Way, Otara. (google street view: link)

Although the two incidents are not thought to be linked they follow a series of similar crimes in the
region where school children have been attacked in broad daylight. One of which was the abduction and rape of a 15 year old in Henderson, by a bogus truancy officer and another the attempted abduction of a 10 year old in Stanmore Bay, Whagaparoa

Attempted Kidnapping on Auckland's North Shore

Source: NZ Herald

"Police are investigating the attempted abduction of an 11-year-old schoolgirl on Auckland's North Shore today.

The girl was walking to school in Beach Haven , when she was approached from behind by a man in a Honda Civic two-door hatchback who got out and grabbed hold of her, police said.

The girl put up a struggle, eventually breaking free and running to school, where she raised the alarm.

The attack happened on Fordham St.

Police are looking for a Maori or Polynesian man, possibly in his late teens, about 1.8m tall, who was wearing a white and black cap with thick white stripes, baggy jeans and a green and white basketball-type shirt.

His car had a dent in the driver's door and its registration possibly started with the letters XA.

Police appealed for help from the public."

NZPA

More Auckland Bag Snatches: Police get one man but lose the other

Source: NZ Herald

"A man has been arrested in downtown Auckland after a bag-snatching incident.

Police swooped onto the lower Queen St, Viaduct Harbour areas after sightings of two men linked with an alleged bag-snatching on the North Shore this morning.

A police spokesman said one of the men was arrested near the boat terminal on Quay St without incident. Police are still seeking the other man."

Comment:

Muggings of women/handbag thefts is an increasingly serious and widespread problem in Auckland, where a number of incidents have resulted in a death and serious injuries to both victims and innocent bystanders. See blog link: Handbag snatches

Armed Robbery on Auckland's North Shore

Source: NZ Herald, 16 Sept 2008
An off licence in the residential suburb of Forrest Hill was robbed by a woman with a gun and her male accomplice at 7:30pm on Saturday.

This is just the latest in a string of armed robberies in the Auckland region, the majority of which have been in South Auckland. However, the spread to the northern suburbs is an indication that the problem is unconfined and has moved to the more affluent areas of New Zealand.

Robbery at Knife Point

Source: NZ Herald, 16 Sept , 2008
Also in the news today is a knife point robbery at a gas station in Hamilton that took place at 1am this morning.

Police are laying the part of the blame on the victim for going against their advice and allowing the attackers into the store. No mention was made of whether or not that advice was passed on to the victim.

Attempted Abduction at Automatic Teller Machine

Source: Stuff, 16 Sept, 2008
A man tried to abduct a woman in Hastings last night after she withdrew money from an ATM. The th assault happened in Heretaunga Street West, fortunately the woman managed to fight off the attacker