A Wellington man accused of duping at least 30 New Zealanders out of millions of dollars appears to have got away with it.

Bay of Plenty Civil Defence officials are on flood alert, urging people to be prepared for heavy rain during the weekend.

A man caught travelling at 164km/h in the BOP had other motorists to blame after he was found with a breath alcohol reading over twice the legal limit.

Two Salvation Army volunteers have been convicted of stealing groceries intended for the organisation's charity food bank.

A 22-year-old is charged with stealing an ambulance he had called for his friend, who had fractured his skull and vertebrae after falling 4m onto concrete.

A woman accused of murdering her baby son by leaving him alone in the bath knew CPR but did not try to resuscitate him because she thought it was too late, a court has been told.

A mother accused of murdering her baby said she felt "incapable" of looking after her children.

A mother who lost her son to suicide says restrictions on media reporting of suicide should be no different to rape, murder or car accidents.

A city councillor is keeping her head below the parapet after taking a $4000 ratepayer funded trip to California to study sandcastles.