Media advisory No 5
4.10pm, 24 January 2013

Great Barrier Island fire - update No. 5
Changes in heat and humidity this afternoon have seen renewed fire activity within the contained fire area.

Visible flames and smoke are due to controlled vegetation burn-offs within the contained area.

Forty five volunteer rural firefighters continue to work on the fire’s containment perimeter and a helicopter remains on the Island to support activities.

No properties are under threat.

Auckland Council’s Rural Fire team, with the assistance of the Department of Conservation ground crews, is working in shifts to suppress any further breakouts and dampen hotspots.

Strengthening the containment lines in preparation for the weekend’s forecast is top priority for the team.

The New Zealand Defence Force is also assisting with transporting additional supplies to the ground crews on the island.

Auckland Council’s Rural Fire team is leading the response with further assistance from the Fire Service, National Rural Fire Authority and the Police.

Ends

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"Unlawful, Unjustified And Unreasonable": Report Into Urewera Raids Finds Police Acted Unlawfully

Independent Police Conduct Authority Chair Judge Sir David Carruthers said today that the decision by the then Commissioner of Police to undertake the operation in Ruatoki Valley and elsewhere on 15 October 2007 was reasonable and justified.

“However, the road blocks established by Police at Ruatoki and Taneatua were unlawful, unjustified and unreasonable... Police had no legal basis for stopping and searching vehicles or photographing drivers or passengers,” he said...

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