The weather's going to be (finally) glorious for most of the country.

Mayors in three of New Zealand's poorest districts - the Far North, Rotorua and Gisborne - want to take over central Government agencies in their areas to eradicate "entrenched poverty".

While the eastern region swelters in one of the most rain-deprived Januaries in more than a century, some western areas have been drenched.

An Australian lawyer is searching for Kiwi victims of serial paedophile Catholic priest Father Denis McAlinden. Alyce Johnson of

Tevita Lokotui, who plays the tuba in the school's brass band, is recovering after having his leg amputated at the knee as a result of the Christmas Eve bus crash.

Dozens of teachers were disciplined or struck off last year for sexual, inappropriate or aggressive behaviour towards students.

Family and friends will gather today to say goodbye to a father and son who died together in a truck crash.

Find out what place will be 31C on Auckland Anniversary weekend and read our list of the top five places to bask in the sun.

An 8-year-old boy who died alongside his father in a truck crash in the Hawke's Bay wanted to drive trucks just like his dad, family say.

Archbishop Brown Turei, one of the leaders of the Anglican Church in New Zealand and Polynesia, will be remembered at a funeral tomorrow.

A Gisborne teenager has died after he was critically injured after he fell from the roof of a moving car.

An elderly Gisborne woman's handbag was stolen while she took holy communion at a city church on Sunday and other church parishioners have been warned about it.

Firefighters are returning to the scene of a major scrub fire that gutted a house, destroyed a shed and forced the evacuation of baches and homes in the Hawke's Bay.

The three children aged five, eight and nine have been referred to Youth Aid.

A 16-year-old boy has been arrested and charged over an alleged sex attack on a woman in Gisborne on New Year's Day.

Emergency services are battling a scrub fire in Gisborne.

A Gisborne family have made a plea for the return of their stolen husky.

Police in Gisborne are hunting a man who attacked a woman as she slept at a campground early on New Year's Day.

Leticia Malakai's death brings the holiday road toll to 19 - the highest since the 2011/2012 period.

As most Kiwis were partying to see the new year in, others were being born.

The MetService is forecasting rain for much of New Zealand today, perhaps ruining plans for post-party barbecues and sunbathing.

Revellers packed out bars and party-hot spots the length of the country last night to welcome in 2017. Fine weather in most of the

A spectacular fireworks display off Auckland's Sky Tower and parties around the country herald the start of a new year.

American hip hop artist Chance the Rapper wooed a capacity crowd on the first day of Rhythm and Vines, telling the crowd he would move to NZ.

Sombre music rang out as the band opened the service with a tribute to Sione Taumalolo, 11, and Talita Moimoi Fifita, 33, killed in the bus crash.

Crash survivors still weak but 'doing okay' after their flight from Gisborne.

Road toll now equal to last summer's following death of motorcyclist.

The surviving members of the Tongan band involved in last week's bus crash will fly to Auckland tomorrow, courtesy of Air New Zealand.

Revellers at this year's Rhythm and Vines festival are warned if they drive home expect to be breath-tested.

Plans to recover a bus that plunged down a bank, killing two, have been delayed until tomorrow.