A 24-year-old man has been arrested over the death of an elderly Wanganui woman in a hit-and-run yesterday.

The slain Kahui twins' grandfather today admitted lying to police to protect his son Chris, an inquest into the twins' deaths has heard.

The Kahui twins' grandfather drove 50km to search for their mum when baby Cru stopped breathing, instead of taking him 4km to hospital, an inquest hears.

A trackside fire has shut down train services on Auckland's Southern and Eastern line between Otahuhu and Papakura.

The first Auckland Council has been decided, and it has a centre-left look about it, which will make life easier for Super Mayor Len Brown.

Ezra Sitagata, 7, could 'pass and tackle like a pro' but he had to tell his team he had cancer.

Down the southern motorway, entire state house suburbs were created by the Government.

Auckland's outer suburbs are not, in general, the home of fine cuisine.

Detectives are trying to piece together the secret life of a police officer who was stabbed to death in his home last weekend.

A 16-year-old boy has appeared in court charged with the murder of an off-duty police officer.

An off-duty police officer stabbed to death in his own home appears to have known his attacker but police will not comment on whether the accused killer was a relative.

Three men who kidnapped and bashed a man in the south Auckland town of Papakura last night are still on the loose.