Northland

The man was found in a creek near Whangārei, with his motorbike parked nearby.

The twister would have killed people if it had struck during the day instead of 3am, Mark Mitchell says.

In emails, chief medical officer urged Health NZ head to make the call: "There comes a point where we have to recognise that we have reached the limit of our actions."

DOC is considering revising trap standards after the bird's bill was caught and it was killed.

It's believed he died some time between 7pm and 11pm on 28 January, in the layby opposite the entrance to Otaika Valley Scenic Reserve.

A senior Northland doctor was so worried about a lack of medical staff in Dargaville overnight she was convinced it was too risky to keep the town's hospital open.

Police have set up checkpoints and are going door to door in a small Far North village: "It's important that anyone in the community with information does the right thing."

Whangārei police are investigating the death of a motorcyclist just south of the city overnight.

The council is promising more than one sweep as residents and businesses dispose of their damaged goods. Audio

Building inspectors have completed 90 rapid assessments of properties damaged by the Mangawhai tornado, stickering 35 of them.

The storm in Mangawhai was so powerful that power poles were snapped in half and roofs were ripped off, leaving the seaside community littered with debris. Audio

Mangawhai has been compared to a war zone, with houses destroyed, roofs torn off, debris scattered across roads and power poles ripped out.

FENZ Northland manager Wipari Henwood says the damage was some of the worst he had seen from a tornado.

Residents are pulling together to tidy up after the devastation, but power lines have been torn down and cars have been crushed by trees.

Heavy rain warnings and watches have been issued, and people are being told to be prepared.

James Fisher-Harris is calling for the return of his stolen premiership winning boots, which he had donated.

Allowing a company to apply for fast-tracked consent to mine sand has galvanised opposition and brought previously disparate groups together, the plan's critics say.

An innocent bystander gave Kevin Grey a friendly nod. Moments later he and his partner were being viciously attacked.

The Azamara Pursuit cruise was the first of four set to berth at Northport this year.

They them fled with stolen items.