Ordnance discovered by Whangārei 12

A 12-year-old girl discovered a piece of military ordnance while exploring rocks at Ōrewa Beach in New Zealand. The New Zealand Defence Force conducted a controlled detonation of the item after it was identified as potentially explosive.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the ongoing risk of unexploded ordnance in public areas and the importance of public safety protocols.
Teresa Walker, said her 12-year-old daughter made the startling discovery during the Whangārei family's holiday to the beach.
A 12-year-old girl exploring rocks at a popular north Auckland beach made a shocking discovery when she found a suspicious item, which was later destroyed in a controlled detonation.
The piece of ordnance was found by the young girl yesterday afternoon, near some stairs close to a playground on Ōrewa Beach.
The item was detonated this morning by the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) after locals had been warned of an impending “loud bang”.
Teresa Walker, from Whangārei, said her 12-year-old daughter Sophia made the startling discovery during a family holiday trip to the beach.
“My parents live in Ōrewa. We had some cousins visiting from Australia, so we were just down there enjoying the beach, and my younger two were climbing on the rocks,” Teresa said.
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