A former New Zealand soldier is fighting on the frontlines in Ukraine alongside a group of international volunteers.

A death at a beach north of Christchurch is unrelated to a local surf club event, police say.

Replanting has started at a North Canterbury coastal park that a fire tore through 10 days ago.

One person is dead and three are seriously injured with gunshot and stab wounds after an incident in a carpark in the Auckland suburb of East Tamaki overnight.

New figures have revealed Māori are three times more likely to die from a drug overdose than Pākehā.

A company making use of recycled soft plastics in New Zealand says this country is not facing the problems emerging in Australia, where collection has been suspended.

Aucklanders are being asked to share their views about a future harbour crossing.

Patrons at a Hastings bar narrowly avoided being shot, when a gun was fired into the entrance way.

Police say drink-drivers are not getting the message after a sting prior to the Six 60 concert in Rotorua yesterday found 18 drivers were over the limit.

An injured tramper who ran out of food six days ago has been rescued from a remote back country hut on the West Coast.

Four hospital projects in the south of the South Island are in limbo.

Waka Kotahi says it is considering the feasibility of toll charges on road projects within the New Zealand Upgrade Programme.

The Prime Minister has called the Black Ferns legends for their win in the Rugby World Cup.

A group representing people with rare health disorders has joined other organisations in expressing concern about Pharmac's review of rule 8.1b, related to the funding of child cancer treatments.

Fire crews are continuing to battle a fire at car wreckers yard in the King Country.

Two people have died in water-related incidents this afternoon - one in the Bay of Plenty and one in southern Otago.

A multi-million project to help fix flooding issues in Waitara is due to begin this month.

One retailer says the humble brown onion has gone up 200 percent as difficult conditions and the increased prices of fertiliser and diesel impact growers.