Our last long weekend in almost half a year is approaching – and typically Queens Birthday Weekend in New Zealand looks a little unsettled – but by no means is it a write off. There are rain and shower risks – mostly in Northland and our western coastline. Here’s a look at the best forecasts out at the moment – and we’ll fine tune this again on Friday with the very latest for the long weekend.
Latest Video
Truck on fire explodes on Napier street
Witnesses say they think a tyre blew during the fire, with an explosion that sent a plume of flame and smoke out. Video / Margie McAleese
Tararua District toll road protest
Tararua District residents, including Mayor Tracey Collis marched to protest against the proposed toll on Te Ahu a Turanga Manawatu-Tararua Highway. Video / Hawkes Bay Today
Hawke's Bay Coffin Club celebrates 10 years of making coffins
Customise your coffin with the Hawke's Bay Coffin Club members. Video / Michaela Gower
Neil Paton and Brad Edwards prepare for firefighting challenge
Neil Paton and Brad Edwards prepare for firefighting challenge Championship in Nashville. Video / Michaela Gower
Cricket team tackle challenge for Blair Tickner's wife's cancer journey
Central Stags cricket team fundraising for Ozanam House Palmerston North and Cure Leukaemia UK. Video / Michaela Gower / Hawke's Bay Today
Hawke's Bay Airport's new fire truck "Judy Drench"
Hawke's Bay Today takes a ride on Hawke's Bay Airport's new fire truck "Judy Drench". Video / Mitchell Hageman
Family appeal for more information after car rammed
A ute rams Jonzy Brandt's unoccupied car during a late-night hit and run in Hastings. Video / Supplied
Locals on edge after man nicknamed "Waipawa Prowler" continues spate of burglaries
Security footage captures the "Waipawa Prowler" on resident's property. Video / Supplied
Waipawa butchery apprentice primed for Paris
Rhys Tamanui shows what it takes to be a cut above the rest. Video / Michaela Gower
Norfolk pine cut down along Napier's Marine Parade
Norfolk pine cut down along Napier's Marine Parade. Video / Doug Laing
Farming for the future
Hawke's Bay's Thomsen family rise from the mud after Cyclone Gabrielle
Mum of 5 toddlers chats to Hb Today
Joanne Wills mum of 5 toddlers including quadruplets sits down to chat with Hawke's Bay Today reporter James Pocock
Mighty Mitch v ACJ
Hawke's Bay Today reporter Michell Hageman also kind of known loosely as Mighty Mitch goes er toe to toe against Impact Pro Wrestling fly weight championship contender ACJ.
Hastings Tōmoana Showgrounds grandstand demolition
Demolition is set to be completed at the end of August. Video / Paul Taylor
Seal hunts eel in creek near Taradale
A passerby captured the moment a roaming kekeno caught an eel in Taipo Stream near the Napier suburb of Taradale, about 5km from the ocean. Video / Supplied
Masked men throw 'fire bomb' at vehicle in Dannevirke
A Dannevirke family watched as their ute went up in flames. Video / Annette Lilo
Leopards Go Wild
The Leopard Family have spent 20 months on the road living in a caravan and have no plans on stopping. Video / Leopardsgowild: Michael Leopard
Hastings model railfan
Hastings Model Railway Club enthusiast Tony Simons is building a railway based on an old South Island coal mining village. Video / Warren Buckland
Kōkako Award winner Lydia Clark
11-year-old Lydia Clark and 15-year-old brother Finn chats to James Pocock from Hawke's Bay Today
Hawke's Bay's bareknuckle boxer
Cannon Williams chats to Hawke's Bay Today reporter James Pocock on his hopes to become a bare knuckle boxing champion. Video Paul Taylor
86 year old Hastings gym enthusiast
86 yr old Hastings gym enthusiast Patrick O'Neil loves exercise. He says it's good for the body and good for the mind. Video / Warren Buckland
Vanuatu RSE workers stranded in Hawkes Bay
Air Vanuatu has grounded all flights leaving Vanuatu RSE workers stranded in Hawkes Bay. Reporter James Pocock / Video Warren Buckland
Redclyffe substation to be rebuilt higher
Transpower and Unison announced that strengthening, raising and improving the Redclyffe substation at its current location was the preferred way forward for both.
Kāinga Ora Napier social housing open day
New social housing open day at Maraenui, Napier. Kāinga Ora Homes and Communities has a large build programme underway. There are about 400 new state homes in the pipeline.
100km walk for Havelock North 99 year old
Inspired by “Captain Tom” Hamilton Logan a Hawke's Bay farming identity is walking in total 100km in his 100th year to help give those who need it a second chance at life.
Firefighters bring massive Hastings scrub fire under control
Hamish Smith, group manager Fire and Emergency Hawke’s Bay, describes the situation at the scene of a six-hectare scrub fire in Waiwhare, Hastings district.
Walter Malcolm WW2 Waipukurau veteran
Walter Malcolm WW2 Waipukurau veteran talks about his war experience in Germany. Video Warren Buckland
Tom Husband WW2 Jay Force veteran
Reporter Maddisyn Jeffares talks to WW2 Jay Force veteran Tom Husband about his time in Japan.
Song writing class
Florence Smith performs her song song Broke with Rubies for the first time with other members of the song writing class during the National youth Drama school held at Havelock High
Hawke's Bay whale sighting
Sperm whale sighting off Hawke's Bay. Video / Bevan O'Connor
Hastings light festival comes alive with Oriental sights and sounds
Hastings Osmanthus Gardens Lantern Festival has returned after a hiatus due to Covid and the cyclone.
The rise of wāhine divers
Tina Rangi is running a camp in rural Hawke's Bay to help women learn to gather kaimoana safely. Video / Warren Buckland
Inside the exclusive international entry to Napier Airport
International travellers can fly direct to Napier using the Customs Controlled Area (CCA) that Air Napier has been granted. Video / Warren Buckland. Reporter / Mitchell Hageman
Resident stingray delights security guards
Rayleen the stingray has made the Port of Napier her home. Video / Alex MacGregor
Hastings Rainbow Storytime cancelled
Hastings Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst speaks about the cancellation of Rainbow Storytime event at city's library. Video / Hastings District Council
Kiwi going home
Cape Sanctuary General Manager Rachel Ward on the latest release of Kiwi back into the wild.
Hawkes's Bay leaders address findings of Cyclone Gabrielle review
Hawkes's Bay leaders address findings of Cyclone Gabrielle review. Video / Mark Story
Inside the Rovers: Leaving a Legacy
The power of legacy – and honouring the past – has been drilled into the Napier City Rovers squad Video / Neil Reid
Bookworms in CHB
El Guylott from Waipawa, an avid reader and book collector has passed her passion onto her children and husband.