After talking to locals in Tokomaru Bay today, the prime minister says repairing roads and supporting locals with insurance issues will be priorities as the region cleans up from the week's flooding.

A Covid-19 modeller is hopeful Omicron hospitalisations have peaked and says New Zealand's death rate is at a comparable level to other countries during an Omicron wave.

Four further deaths of people with Covid-19 have been reported in New Zealand, with the number of confirmed cases dropping to 10,239 today.

Maraea Marata Smith turned 36 on Friday - the same day she was found dead on Titoki Street after police were called to reports of a fight.

The Massey University lecturer - who specialised in fat studies and body stigma - has passed away.

Goats have finally been eliminated from Te Papakura o Taranaki, formerly known as Egmont National Park.

Most of Auckland's regional fuel tax funds have not been spent, the National Party says, but Auckland's mayor is rubbishing the claim.

Civil Defence is today delivering vital supplies to Gisborne residents cut off by the week's severe flooding, while contractors work to clear slips and landslides in the Tairāwhiti region.

World War II veteran John Sato, who came to prominence after taking four buses to join an anti-racism march in 2019, has died at the age of 98.

The world's biggest Māori and Pacific Islands cultural festival kicked off in Tāmaki Makaurau this week, but with no crowds for the first time.

Three people have been killed in separate crashes today across the North Island.

When police shoot and kill, they're investigated by fellow officers. Guyon Espiner reveals that shooters have been shown evidence in advance of being interviewed.

New Zealand police are fatally shooting people at 11 times the rate of officers in England and Wales. Who are they killing and are they justified?

When a firefighter abused his young son, many in their small town refused to believe it. Fire and Emergency kept him on, and locals turned on the boy's mum, saying she'd made up the allegations.

You think you're doing the right thing by reporting your rape. You think it might help prevent the same thing happening to others. But what happens if your attacker is found not guilty?

An unvaccinated man plans on travelling to New Zealand - and there's no way to tell he hasn't had the jab.

New Zealand's Covid-19 hospitalisation numbers have fallen sharply again, but the death toll has risen by another 20 people today, with 14,175 new community cases also reported.

A new record for heavy rainfall has been set by this week's torrential downpours.