Weather

Much of New Zealand's south is bracing for "significant" rain, with the potential for a red warning - the most severe - for Westland.

Emergency Management teams are ramping up ahead of a major weather system set to bring days of heavy rain and strong winds to parts of the country from Tuesday.

More than 80 flood warnings are still active across New South Wales following torrential rain across the state on Friday.

Multiple rainfall records have been smashed by the deluge and scores rescued from floodwaters.

The West Coast is to bear the brunt of the strong northerly winds and dumping of rain that is likely to reach warning levels, the MetService says.

People are being urged to stay home and dozens of flights and trains have been cancelled as heavy rain continues in New South Wales.

A major rain event is unfolding across eastern Australia, triggering numerous warnings for heavy rain, flooding and damaging winds.

Sydney is on flood watch alongside at least 30 rivers across NSW and Queensland, as torrential rain is expected to pummel eastern Australia over the next 48 hours.

More than 25 locations experienced record-breaking or near-record low mean temperatures last month.

Clouds and showers expected around the country for the rest of the week.

Christchurch woke to its second coldest March day on record at -1C, and it is about to get chilly across the country.

A group of Hawke's Bay hapū are calling for the knowledge of Māori communities to be at the forefront of emergency management plans.

The cold snap has brought the first snow of the year to Otago's Cardrona ski field. Audio

Buyout rules for uninhabitable properties are stacked against owners, Shane Fell says, but the Gisborne council is defending its process.

The South Island looks like the place to be this Easter weekend, but there's a chill coming first.

An independent review found Civil Defence was not prepared for Cyclone Gabrielle, and the "worst case scenario" was not planned for.