Locals call for safety improvements to rural Auckland road following fatal crash that claimed lives of young couple.

Gusts could reach as high as 110kmh as gales cross the north of the country overnight and into Tuesday.

The sheer volume of people seeking treatment has forced some surgeries to be postponed and created long waits for those seeking help.

Geoff Blackmore could not believe it when he saw a man in a golf cart pointing a gun into the trees near his home. When a shot rang out he was even more shocked to discover his cat, Vinny, dying beneath the wattle trees.

Former deputy prime minister Winston Peters has lost his latest court battle over the leaking of details of a superannuation overpayment and has added to a costly legal bill.

'It all worked out in the end' was not good enough for the two years lost, lawyer says.

Cable appeared in the High Court for the start of a two-week trial but instead opted to plead guilty to murder.

Snow warnings have been issued for motorists traversing the South Island's alpine passes as a cold front moves up the country.

Eddy arrived home from a Sunday stroll with with his face covered in blood and eye “completely destroyed” after being shot at close range.

“I’m just over being rural and being forgotten about.”

Tensions have erupted at the West Coast Conservation Board between Ngāi Tahu representatives and a board member over Punakaiki's new visitor centre.

The officer was under the microscope for allegations of excessive force, writing a false statement and misusing the police database at the time.

Gold medallist Alena Saili says a fractured shoulder two months ago nearly denied her the chance of playing for the Black Ferns at the Olympic Games.

We have all the latest updates for traffic and weather related incidents in Auckland.

Wellington's wastewater woes go on; Waitangi Stream is contaminated by sewage, and a Khandallah garden is strewn with waste two weeks after heavy rain.

About an hour before Lachlan Johnson fatally shot his 30-year-old neighbour in rural Taranaki, he lit and released Chinese lanterns over a valley near his home.

The trial for a man who allegedly took advantage of sleeping boys for decades has begun.

Lorraine Shaab and five others spent two hours in the wetlands in Porirua Harbour on Saturday, and came away with more 16 bags full of rubbish.

A lack of new recruits coming out of Police College has created a lull in staff supply to cover South Wairarapa community policing roles.

The Southern District Health Board is reconsidering roles for its executive team as an independent report says there needs to be more accountability.