The weekend will be mainly fine across the country.

Margaret Richardson has cancer in her lung, chest wall, spine and rib cage.

Caption: The humpback whale which popped up next to Dolphin Seafaris NZ cruise heading out to find dolphins. Photo/Sam Gilbert for

Chieftain Ngatai and Chieftainess Ngatai were both painted in 1884 by Gottfried Lindauer. PHOTO/SUPPLIED 140317RKBOP01 140317RKBOP02*** By

By John Cousins The Tauranga City Council is seeking public feedback on an annual plan with the biggest capital spending programme

A State Highway 2 bypass between Tauranga and Waihi will go ahead.

WATERY GRAVE: The stern of the Rena photographed earlier this month on Astrolabe Reef. PHOTO/SUPPLIED 130317sp51bop_rena.JPG By John

A Tauranga store owner is fighting back against alleged shoplifters.

The Sundaise Festival in Waihi has been flooded out.

This week's storm chaos has seen unsettled silt at water treatment plants, sparking a city-wide call to save two buckets of water per person, per day.

Rainfall levels 'off the charts' as upper North Island prepares for a second big drenching this week.

An 18-year-old engineering apprentice is taking on one of New Zealand's biggest insurance firms in a dispute involving two cows.

Hauraki Mayor John Tregidga met with locals in Whiritoa, as they band together after being hit with 260mm of rain in the past 24 hours. Made with funding from NZ On Air.

Scientists have put a recent spate of Central North Island quakes down to long-term tectonic "stretching" rather than worrying volcanic activity.

Aiden Lints defies doctors' predictions after spine partially severed in crash.

Whangamata one of worst-hit towns after most serious storm in decades strikes.

A Canadian mother and daughter awoke to an unwelcome surprise in Thames this morning - the wild weather overnight had swamped their campervan. Made with funding from NZ On Air.

Thames & Coromandel District Mayor Sandra Goudie discusses the state of the region after wild weather hit overnight. Made with funding from NZ On Air.

Weather watches or warning are in place for most of the upper North Island as more rain is forecast over the week.

Linda Munn is best known as one of three women who helped to create the Tino Rangatiratanga flag. But how did she start out making art? And what is she doing nearly three decades on? Made with funding from NZ On Air.

The alleged gunman at the centre of the Kawerau siege has been told to sit down during his opening statement because his comments were not appropriate.

Charlotte Hamilton says doctors told her the quick treatment from the First Response unit saved her from potential paralysis.

The first day of the trial of a man accused of shooting four police officers in the Bay of Plenty last year has been adjourned at the Hamilton High Court.

Life is good for ducklings saved from certain doom on a railway track.

Lawyer says almost all iwi accept abandoning ship's remains should be allowed.

National Party has stunned its critics with a plan for national superannuation.

A trial is underway involving a man with name suppression charged with sexual assault offences and abduction.

A person is believed to have been stabbed in the Bay of Plenty town of Katikati this evening.

Rachel Browne used Park Run Rotorua to help her back onto her feet after injury. Locals and tourists alike gather to run 5kms every Saturday morning. Made with funding from NZ On Air.

Rachel Browne used Park Run Rotorua to help her back onto her feet after injury. Locals and tourists alike gather to run 5kms every Saturday morning. Made with funding from NZ On Air.