Auckland Zoo closes for the day as staff grieve the loss of 40-year-old Kashin the Elephant, who died yesterday.

A 2-year-old girl became ill five minutes after drinking seawater at Narrow Neck Beach.

Authorities have taken samples from the dog to find out if it is a victim of the toxin found in puffer fish that killed at least one dog on Narrow Neck Beach.

Barbecuing a family pet is not so very different to roasting a lamb or chook raised at home.

Tetrodotoxin found in the dead dogs' vomit and in a sea slug sample taken from Narrow Neck Beach.

Scientists have proved that slugs found on an Auckland beach are toxic but have not established what they have eaten to make them poisonous.

Researchers believe they may be dealing with two or even three unrelated causes of illness in the Hauraki Gulf.

Health authorities have issued an alert for all eastern Auckland and Hauraki Gulf beaches after two dogs died and others fell sick.