Tom Phillips disappeared with his three children nine months ago.

Emergency services rushed to an explosion at a construction site on Halsey St in downtown Auckland that left five people injured. Video / NZ Herald

Hundreds of people have been displaced from their homes due to slips and flooding.

A tenant reportedly had a lucky escape after sleepout plunged down a steep slope.

More than 400 homes have had to be evacuated in the Nelson area.

Firefighters across New Zealand took the unusual step of striking today.

Three fire trucks are currently at the scene.

Traffic was building quickly with queues now heavy over the Auckland Harbour Bridge.

Due to a crash, two northbound lanes are blocked near the Ellerslie-Panmure on-ramp.

Wellsford's Castle Court Motel caught fire early this morning.

Eighty residents have been evacuated and the incident is related to a prior one this week.

Staff burnout has become "massive thing", she said.

Police attend firearms incidents in Avondale and Ōtara overnight. Video / NZ Herald

"I heard these awful noises..." nearby resident tells.

"Enquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances of the crash," police say.

Fire crews were called to the scene on Roydvale Ave in Burnside at about 1pm.

Katie Harris examines fentanyl, a synthetic prescription drug 100 times more potent than morphine. Video / NZ Herald / Getty / NZ Drug Foundation

Police, Fire and Emergency and WorkSafe are discussing how to proceed.

The woman was knocked unconscious when she hit her head and fell on her stomach.

A list of state highways are also impassable or obstructed by slips and flooding.

A witness said a man was on the ground after he was hit by a car.

"Initial indications are that the incident involved people known to each other."

Police say woman was assaulted, found to be critically injured and subsequently died.

An engine had to be shut down following a "technical problem".

Emergency Management Minister says a new centre will make a big difference.

Five people have been taken to Middlemore Hospital.

Police have taped off a steep driveway on Keystone Ave.

Multiple people with critical injuries following a collision with a traffic light overnight. Video / Hayden Woodward

The North Shore knife attack, benefit dependencies explode, Waikato towns left in the dark, a deadly night on Northland roads and Matariki celebrations kick off in the latest New Zealand Herald Headlines. Video / NZ Herald

The group spent their final days sightseeing and enjoying each others' company.