East Coast

Orange heavy rain and strong wind warnings are in place for the north-east of the North Island.

The accident happened just after 7am Tuesday at Whakaki, leaving logs strewn across the road.

Piripi Takurua - who sprang to fame last year in The Adventures of Piripi Kaiwaru, AKA Phillip - is back for another season of mischief. This time, he's heading across the ditch, reports Pōkere Paewai… Video

The family of the teenager from Gisborne earlier said their "hearts were breaking" over her disappearance.

Mayor Rehette Stoltz is concerned NZTA's proposed policy changes would reduce emergency funding.

Gisborne residents are being urged to see how it goes when it comes to the Grey St trial, a temporary structure aimed at encouraging locals to cycle and walk more.

The plumbing issues were found just weeks after emergency housing residents moved into the 31-home Worsley St development.

Establishing an emergency response team in Gisborne could be "another tool in our toolbox", Mayor Rehette Stoltz says.

Iwi and hapū in Wairoa are celebrating the first return of whenua to their hands.

The grandmother of a man killed at a Gisborne birthday party that erupted into violence says she's forgiven those police allege are involved.

A 29-year-old Gisborne man has been charged with two counts of murder relating to the deaths of Chrysler Stevens-Mark - who was celebrating his 21st birthday - and his 30-year-old cousin Kane Te Paa.

Two young people are being spoken to about the matter and there are "no ongoing safety concerns".

Officers are looking for a person who fled after being signalled to stop.

The doctor said he was the only one on duty for "more than 50" patients the night an elderly man died, in a case criticised by the Health and Disability Commission.

Rescuing the unwell teen from the bush was just one of many operations a local rescue helicopter team conducted last week.

A prominent business family hopes "common sense" will prevail before proposed alcohol regulations come into force.

An international forestry auditor has spoken out about a visit to the slash-damaged East Coast region last year.

A lack of rain on the North Island's East Coast may be good for the area's fruit and vegetable growers - but the dry is starting to bite for pastoral farmers.

Excavators can be seen digging up a section of beach north of Napier and police have confirmed the area is being searched.

Gisborne District Council has shown its support for retaining Māori wards as the government looks to bring back binding referendums.