Emergency Services

A car was found on fire in front of a house on Kiripaka Road about 5.30am on Thursday.

Police were notified at 5.35am about the incident on Gilbert Road in Ōtara.

The fire has burned through three hectares of bush and pine tree slash.

Diversions were in place and drivers should avoid the area, police said.

Police responded to the crash on Old West Coast Road in Selwyn around 11am, and found two people in a critical condition.

State Highway 25 has reopened after a house fire on Tairua Road in Coromandel.

A police vehicle was hit by another vehicle during a gathering in Buxton Square Carpark, Nelson.

One person has died following a serious crash near Bunnythorpe on New Year's Eve.

A person has died after being found unresponsive in the water at a popular Northland beach.

Metservice meterologist John Law says a tornado is "definitely not out of the question".

Emergency services at summer hot spots are preparing for an influx of rowdy visitors on New Year's Eve.

Two people died in a two-vehicle crash north of Mangaweka, bringing the holiday road toll to nine deaths.

Surf Life Saving is warning people to think about what they take to the beach on a windy day.

A hiker was forced to spend overnight and most of the following day in the bush on Boxing Day after he became separated from his group.

A youth has been arrested and is due to appear in Rotorua Youth Court, say police.

St John says a person has been taken to Waikato Hospital in a moderate condition.

Fire and Emergency are warning people to beware of products with lithium batteries purchased over the holiday period.

A person has been seriously injured after a crash on State Highway 2 in Waikino in the Karangahake Gorge.

One person has died in a two-vehicle crash in the Far North, police said, bringing the holiday road fatality toll to an estimated seven people.

Police are investigating the circumstances of her death.