More harrowing testimony is expected as a coroner's inquest into the deaths of eight CTV building victims continues today.

The police officer left in charge of the Christchurch earthquake's biggest disaster zone said he became "frustrated" at being ordered off the site as he tried to rescue survivors.

Police today admitted the February 22 earthquake disaster in Christchurch "overwhelmed" their communication system.

The parents of triplets who died in the Doha mall fire have made an emotional plea for justice after the trial over their deaths was delayed for a third time.

A scorned lover who set fire to her ex's flat has been jailed for three years in an emotional appearance at Tauranga District Court today.

A Papamoa man who was caught in a massive chip-heater hot-water tank explosion has emerged from a coma and is "doing really well" says his wife.

A fire that seriously damaged a police car at a Hamilton Station overnight is being treated as suspicious.

A man is in hospital with serious injuries after a over-heated chip heater exploded and destroyed the kitchen of a family home in Papamoa last night.

The Wanaka farmer whose authorised burn-off sparked a massive fire which burned over 350ha says neighbouring property owners are "ecstatic" with the outcome.

About 40 firefighters have managed to contain a large bush fire beneath the summit of Roy's Peak, Wanaka.

A woman died and a man was injured when fire engulfed their East Coast home north of Ruatoria last night.

About 20 Hawkes Bay residents fought an out of control fire with spades and chilly bins of water near Mahia Beach yesterday.