RNZ exclusive - The head of the international organisation tasked with cutting dangerous climate gases says NZ must follow through on its promise to halve emissions - and look at whether this could be strengthened.

After a family wedding in March this year, Becca's family all caught Covid-19. Almost five months on, two of her children are still battling debilitating symptoms.

The health system is under massive strain and the new entity tasked with fixing it says workforce shortages are at the top of its list.

NZME Radio has apologised to Clarke Gayford and paid him an undisclosed sum, after it aired comments about him being the subject of criminal charges.

In what could be a landmark prosecution, a Taupō man is believed to be the first person ever charged with sabotage in NZ - a historic offence originally passed into law to prevent foreign interference on our shores during World War II.

Three meteor showers combining to provide a celestial firework display are expected tonight.

The registered owner of a website muddling links to Auckland mayoral candidates appears to be a Young Nat.

A former aviation security officer who planted a fake bomb on the runway at Dunedin International Airport has failed to have his case recalled in the Court of Appeal.

The 9.7-metre long juvenile humpback was first seen floating off the coast of Warrington a fortnight ago and DOC says it will likely remain beached while it decomposes.

The geothermal attraction is closed for a WorkSafe and council investigation after a woman fell into a sinkhole near its entrance, suffering serious burns.

The victim, who was stabbed in the leg, was given "lifesaving" emergency first aid by a passer-by, police say.

After guiding New Zealand through two and a half years of a pandemic, Dr Ashley Bloomfield's time as Director-General of Health has come to an end.

One person has been flown to hospital and is in a critical condition following a crash involving a bus and a car in north Canterbury this afternoon.

There have been 7605 new cases of Covid-19 in the community and a further 41 deaths with the virus, the Ministry of Health reports.

A teenager who stabbed a young Northland man to death has been sentenced to life in prison.

Principals say high employment and Covid-19 disruption are behind a spike in teenagers leaving school early.

The government has backed down on a proposal not to let permanent pine and exotic forest owners earn money from the Emissions Trading Scheme.

Four people have been charged with stealing jewellery worth tens of thousands of dollars from an Auckland store.