See-sawing temperatures characterised New Zealand's weather in 2009, according to Niwa's annual climate summary.

Motorists are being warned to take extra care on the roads as heavy rain and strong winds move up the country.

Extreme weather brings hope of end to decade-long drought.

Some parts of the Coromandel Peninsula are still cut off by flooding following torrential downpours.

Parts of the North Island are set for a soaking today, with up to 140mms of rain expected to fall in some areas.

Police and army experts say they're urgently checking the safety of about 1,800 bridges in northern England amid some of the worst storms ever recorded in Britain.

Northland and Auckland could be in for wind gusts of 120km an hour and a small tornado while heavy rains are set to hit further south.

Radio announcer Epati Tamati may have saved hundreds of lives by not budging from his waterfront studio when the Samoan earthquake struck.

Salamasina Ale Taufua should be dead. She has bruises, deep cuts and welts on her body.

A NZ woman whose home and possessions were washed away by the tsunami found the looting that followed tougher to deal with.

The parents of two girls killed in Samoa's tsunami describe their ordeal as New Zealand's death toll rises to seven.

In the hills above the stricken south coast of Samoa, 49 people are huddled under one tarpaulin.