Just a year before he allegedly shot Douglas Witeri between the eyes and killed him, Troy Vincent McHugh shot another man who owed him money, a jury was told yesterday.

A woman's claims that she assisted murder accused Troy McHugh to avoid conviction for murdering Douglas Witeri last year were simply drug-fuelled bravado, her lawyer said.

A Gisborne policeman who came to the aid of a lost boy found himself saving the child's grandmother from a house fire.

An SPCA prosecution against Richard Hamilton McKee, 34, and James Robert Boydey Manukau, 27, continued in Gisborne District Court yesterday.

A provincial rugby league competition has been pushed to the brink of extinction partly because of sideline and onfield abuse.

A former CYF social worker has admitted in court to shortcomings from her and the department resulted in a "vulnerable" teenager being returned to the home where he claims he was physically abused.

Four women rescued a man from drowning in the Taruheru River this morning.

Two small quakes struck just northwest of Gisborne last night.

As well as her work with Pultron and as its managing director, Bronwen Holdsworth has made a significant contribution to the cultural and artistic development of Gisborne.

Organisers of the NZ surf lifesaving championships in Gisborne blasted through the penultimate day's programme yesterday in a bid to keep ahead of the storm expected to slam into the area.

There were emotional scenes on the East Coast north of Gisborne yesterday afternoon as divers located and recovered missing Malaysian man Kuan Loon Loh.

An English tourist jumped in the water to try and save a man who jumped off the wharf at Tolaga Bay - but he was swept away by a wave.

A Napier motorcycle rider who suffered serious head injuries in a crash on Friday afternoon in the Wharerata Hills south of Gisborne has died of his injuries.

The prayers of a grieving family were answered yesterday when a body believed to be that of missing teenager John Wakelin was found in the surf at Wainui Beach.

Two young men who drowned at a popular surf beach north of Gisborne on Saturday were "really neat kids", their father says.

Two brothers who drowned at a popular surf beach north of Gisborne on Saturday have been named by police.

Two young men suspected of drowning at a popular surf beach north of Gisborne yesterday were brothers.

Rhythm and Vines music festival organisers say they expect changes for the better after this summer's mayhem at BW campgrounds on New Year's Eve.

The son of an elderly couple who died in a house fire on Friday morning has paid tribute to his parents.

An elderly couple house-sitting a recently renovated property for their son were killed early yesterday when it went up in flames at Tolaga Bay, 50km north of Gisborne.

Seventy years ago today, a German submarine went on an unsuccessful search for ships to sink in New Zealand waters.

Eighteen of the young men arrested in Gisborne after mayhem at the beachside BW campground on New Year's Eve will face court action.

A 20 year-old man is dead after he tried jumping from a light pole into a swimming pool last night.