Ellen O'Dwyer

A ministerial advisory group said organised crime was impacting every New Zealander whether they recognised it or not.

The Rimutaka Lions Club's annual Christmas lunch today is a tradition running for nearly four decades.

"I thought 'oh that doesn't sound too good,'" the witness told RNZ after the crash.

NZ First is not supporting the agreement, meaning it is now in the hands of the opposition whether it passes or not.

Takahē are a threatened, nationally vulnerable bird, with an estimated population of around 500.

Five-year-old Khyzah DeLaCroix was found dead in a pond near his home.

The Ministry of Education says a fixed sum has been set aside for a "one-off, time-limited" support scheme for schools facing hardship because of contamination costs.

More than 10,000 households a month have their power disconnected, new data shows.

They want to see another Zealandia nature reserve created in Porirua. Audio

The fire was reported shortly after 2pm.

The Children's Commissioner's campaign is centred around a letter she wrote to New Zealand children, saying: "You have the right to be safe." Audio

The incident occurred during the opening round of the NZ Jetsprint Championship at Featherston.

Thirty-three Queen Hornets have been found in the Glenfield and Birkdale areas of the North Shore - two more since Friday.

The Ministry of Education says childcare centres and schools are legally responsible for funding asbestos-contaminated sand removal. Audio

Green MPs and former and current councillors spoke out against the project, saying it's too expensive, too disruptive and too focused on cars. Audio

Earth Sciences New Zealand has identified areas where soils are severely drier than normal in Wairarapa, Hawke's Bay, North Otago, South Canterbury and North Canterbury.

District Court Judge Ema Aitken is accused of disrupting a New Zealand First event at Auckland's Northern Club last November.

Andrew Little says it's more likely the region's councils will become a super-city following reforms announced this week. Audio

A Judicial Conduct Panel will consider Judge Ema Aitken's behaviour.

There are 19 confirmed cases in the current measles outbreak.

Chris Bishop is rejecting criticism over a decision to reallocate funds to a walking and cycling bridge in his electorate.

There were just nine votes separating the top two candidates.

Researchers, advocates and those who've struggled with addiction are renewing appeals for a complete overhaul of the 50-year-old Misuse of Drugs Act. Audio

FENZ said it wanted to hear from anyone with a dashcam who was on State Highway 47 on Saturday afternoon.

"There will be some time before everything is cleared away and we know the true extent of biodiversity loss," the minister says.