East Coast

Urgent repairs to Gisborne's wastewater outfall pipe will close a section of Midway Beach for at least five days.

The owners of a dog mistakenly put down by Gisborne District Council staff are calling for an end to the controversial killing method used on their pet.

Yellow stickers attached to the front of unoccupied cyclone-damaged homes in Te Tai Rāwhiti have been mysteriously disappearing.

Gisborne has issued a flood warning for the Waipaoa River near the settlement of Te Karaka.

The Gisborne animal control officer responsible for killing a family's beloved pet dog by mistake has resigned.

Gisborne District Council says it is investigating the "very unfortunate incident".

Heavy rain warnings are in place for the Gisborne and Eastern Bay of Plenty region with the worst of the downpour expected this morning. Audio

Flood-weary Gisborne and the Eastern Bay of Plenty are next in line for heavy rain - after the lower South Island was battered last week.

Elderly Gisborne residents are furious a new council safety fence has blocked their shortcut to the library.

Gisborne is experiencing its hottest September day on record, topping a previous high set in 1955.

The government has approved $15 million to raise about 200 homes at risk of future flooding - more than half of them in the Tai Rāwhiti settlement of Te Karaka.

The Cyclone Gabrielle Appeal Fund will not be open for applications until early next year, but affected communities say that money is needed now.

Two thousand native trees have been planted by Ruatōria locals to protect their aerodrome from flooding.

Access to Waihau Bay, also known as Loisels, has been cut off since the weekend of 24 June.

Touring the East Cape to find out what's on people's minds pre-election; in Ruatoria it's better access to dental services and more teachers. Audio

Nearly 15,000 extra construction workers may be needed to repair infrastructure damage from this year's wild weather, experts say.

First Up reporter Leonard Powell has taken a tour around the East Cape, to check what's on people's minds pre-election. In Te Araroa they're talking roads, petrol prices, and protecting kaimoana. Audio

The race for East Coast electorate Ikaroa-Rāwhiti was flung wide open after Meka Whaitiri's shock defection to Te Pāti Māori. Audio

The Gisborne council is in a race against time to make important upgrades to its water network to meet a possible drought.

Te Tai Rāwhiti is likely in for a hot, dry spring after months of wet weather - a welcome relief for locals.