Hawke's Bay

Police said a vehicle was reported to have left the road and hit a power pole on State Highway 50 in Fernhill late on Friday night.

A Hawke's Bay sheep, beef and deer station damaged during Cyclone Gabrielle will be planted into rotational forestry.

At least two people were stabbed and two people were hit by a vehicle, police say.

A 43-year-old man is now in police custody - and a firearm recovered by police.

Two fire-fighters saved the lives of people stuck in cars or bed-bound in their homes, even as their own homes succumbed to the rising waters.

The North Island is in the firing line for heavy rain and a cold snap later this week.

Residents have been calling for Ian Macdonald's resignation for 16 months.

Despite years of attempts to set one up, New Zealand is still no closer to a disaster coordination system.

Homes are badly damaged, some are stripped back to timber frames, and residents have big decisions to make.

A damning review has laid bare the regional council's failures before a deadly storm. Nearly 18 months on, "nothing has changed". Audio

Serious concerns have been raised about a lack of planning for floods that exceeded stopbanks in a 260-page report.

About 500 families are facing an uncertain future because the bus service taking their kids to school is being cancelled. Audio

Rawinia Harker's home was hit hard during Cyclone Gabrielle, but was hit even worse in last month's flood.

If the flood had hit at 1am, "there would have been some body bags", mayor says. Audio

Locals say weather conditions were poor when the accident happened on the shores of Lake Pukaki - near where 15 people were injured in bus crashes last week.

The moderate earthquake struck within 5km of Pōrangahau on Sunday morning.

Two teenagers have been arrested, accused of stealing eight vehicles, and committing a burglary and an aggravated robbery.

As three metres of floodwater swept through a rural property, a plucky pig swam against the torrent, desperately trying to survive. Audio

Police want the public's help after an incident in Napier where shots were fired towards an address.