A 9-year-old boy helped rescue Nortessa Montgomerie yesterday, 36 hours after she was abducted on Great Barrier Island.

A woman and man missing on Great Barrier Island in the Hauraki Gulf have been found near Claris on the east coast of the island, police say.

Great Barrier residents warned to stay inside as police hunt a man wanted for abducting his ex-girlfriend and attacking her new partner with a crowbar.

"It was cool. It turned on its side and just sat there looking at us just under the water."

While you're slumming it this summer, others are living it up.

A new book by Shane Boocock features the best of adventure tourism in Auckland.

Deep water fishing is firing at the moment, with large numbers of kingfish over deep pinnacles and reefs in the Hauraki Gulf.

Better an utter, total if humiliating backdown than a messy compromise that keeps the mining issue alive into election year.

Leave your comfort zone at this outdoor pursuits centre, says Beck Vass.

Auckland Central MP Nikki Kaye's stance against her party's proposed mining on Great Barrier Island is not just political it's heartfelt.

There will be no open cast mining on Great Barrier Island or Coromandel, John Key assured Parliament today, while under attack over the Govt's mining plan.

Some Great Barrier locals say mining will destroy the island's "fragile" environment, while others say the jobs created will be a blessing.

The Prime Minister says he is not overly concerned by his Auckland Central MP's stance on mining on Great Barrier Island.

National MP Nikki Kaye has criticised Government plans to open Great Barrier Island to mining, as have mayors John Banks and Len Brown.

Single Aucklanders frustrated with the "man drought" may have an option on the horizon - there's a shortage of women on Great Barrier Island.

Great Barrier Island is emphasising its wealth of natural features and paucity of cars in an application to become part of the New Zealand Cycleway.

Paul Rush goes on a journey of discovery and draws on his survival skills to become a castaway.

Pam Neville takes a different view of one of New Zealand's greatest beauty spots.

When I find out we're going to be riding a 'trike', it's hard to stop my mind conjuring up images of a 3-wheeler kiddy toy.

Auckland Mayor John Banks calls the city's new local government structure "an inspired piece of work".

The Auckland Super City will be made up of 12 wards with about 20 local boards at the grassroots democracy level.