Police are working hard to identify the origin of threats being made to some of the country's schools, an assistant commissioner says.

One in six kiwis have been homeless and tonight about 41,000 of us will bed down without adequate access to housing - equivalent to the population of Whanganui, according to a new study.

A cardiologist at Wellington Hospital fears patients could die on waiting lists as surgeries are delayed.

Despite an increase in road deaths last year, roading officials say targets for reducing the road toll are on track.

One of New Zealand's best known country singers, John Grenell, has died aged 78.

Otago Regional Council is using helicopters to monitor rivers after heavy rain washed out roads.

Plans to build an 850-seat riverside conference and events centre in Whangārei have been revived.

Bomb threats were made to at least a dozen schools today, causing widespread disruption and evacuations.

The Parole Board has been told about how Covid-19 restrictions are affecting a convicted murderer who has spent more than 15 years behind bars.

The clean car discount scheme has had only 80 cases where rebates or fees had to be corrected, Minister of Transport Michael Wood says.

Former Otago Polytechnic chief executive Phil Ker has called for an apology from Education Minister Chris Hipkins for turning the country's polytechnic education system into "a national disgrace".

There are 7627 new community cases of Covid-19 and 827 hospitalisations to report today, the Ministry of Health says.

Two climbers who were almost buried by an avalanche and forced to shelter in a snow cave are recovering from a dramatic rescue from the Remarkables Range near Queenstown.

Police are speaking to two young people after a lockdown at Marlborough Girls' College due to a threat this afternoon.

The West Coast Regional Council has been criticised by the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) after an audit of the 2021-31 long-term plan.

TVNZ hiring rules probably need to be enhanced following a review into the recruitment of presenter Kamahl Santamaria, Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson says.

Some acute heart patients are waiting weeks in hospital for an operation, too sick to go home but unable to get a surgical slot.

Police have identified a man in relation to a sexual assault in central Auckland.