Latest from Emergency Services

Kick to head sounded 'like an apple dropping on concrete'
A horse kick left Mark Isaacs with 400 stitches, three steel plates screwed into his face, a broken jaw and a reconstructed eye socket.

Auckland bus ploughs into cars in peak-hour traffic
Two people were taken to hospital after a bus crashed into a line of cars in the Auckland suburb of Greenlane this morning.

Fire Service: Four deaths in five days 'preventable'
The deaths of four people in house fires across the country in the past five days could have been prevented, the Fire Service says.

Collins backs pistols in all police cars
Police Minister Judith Collins has told the Police Association she supports the idea of lock boxes for pistols in all police vehicles, after the July shooting of two officers in Christchurch.

Whangārei's iconic, 107-year -old ''Old Town Hall'' has been badly damaged in a fire this afternoon
Whangārei's iconic, 107-year -old ''Old Town Hall'' has been badly damaged in a fire this afternoon. Video / Twitter / @instrum3nt / @Kar3nlj / We Are Whangarei / @soccer.dude1

Boys save dad after roof shock
Two young brothers are being hailed as heroes after they rescued their dad from a DIY disaster.

Teens badly burned when gas bottle explodes in their faces
Two teenagers are seriously ill in Middlemore Hospital with extensive burns after a gas cylinder is thought to have exploded in their faces.

Fire at childcare centre being treated as arson
Police are hunting an arsonist after a fire gutted a childcare centre in the Auckland suburb of New Lynn yesterday.

Childcare centre fire brought down, asbestos found
About 45 firefighters battled a "major" blaze at a childcare centre in the Auckland suburb of New Lynn.

Worlds collided, with fatal results
Phillip Bannan bought three bottles of wine and - after several afternoon drinks - decided to drive 87km from Akaroa to Christchurch.

Large fire at Wellington film effects studio
A massive blaze at the building of a Wellington film effects studio linked to Sir Peter Jackson's movies took three hours to put out.

Killer driver pleads guilty
An unlicensed drink driver who fled police and ran a red light before crashing into a car, killing two, has pleaded guilty to their manslaughter.

Thieves raid ambulance on callout
As ambulance officer Masina Reid attended to a seriously ill patient, a thief was stealing her bag from the back of the ambulance.

Death of West Coast man 'suspicious'
West Coast police are investigating the suspicious death of a 38-year-old man whose body was found this morning.

Girl dies in her father's arms
A grieving dad has told how he cradled his 10-year-old daughter in his arms as she passed away from an asthma attack.