A weak cold front will bring cloud, drizzle and showers to the country over the next few days but should clear in time for New Year celebrations.

Emergency services were not called immediately after attack.

Carving, planing and knocking in. With the summer of cricket upon us, James Laver demonstrates the craft that goes into a hand-made cricket bat. Made with funding from NZ On Air.

Carving, planing and knocking in. With the summer of cricket upon us, James Laver demonstrates the craft that goes into a hand-made cricket bat. Made with funding from NZ On Air.

Brenda Wheatley knows the heartache caused by a driver's decision to use a cell phone while behind the wheel.

This festive season the Hawke's Bay Community Choir is doing the rounds visiting local retirement villages to help spread the Christmas spirit through song. Made with funding from NZ On Air.

This festive season the Hawke’s Bay Community Choir is doing the rounds visiting local retirement villages to spread the Christmas spirit through song. Made with funding from NZ On Air.

Workers have been forced to return and fix a Hawke's Bay road up to half a dozen times in four months. Contractor Russell Roads

Wet weather today will clear throughout the country making way for a mainly fine Christmas weekend.

There was a record downpour in Auckland, a tornado in Taranaki and "quake lights" above Wellington. Oh, and 2016 was likely also New Zealand's hottest year on record.

Almost 600 undersized paua have been returned to the sea near Napier after several large-scale paua busts in one day. Ministry for

Rotorua's Redwoods Treewalk will now be lit up at night by 30 bespoke David Trubridge lights. The partnership between New Zealand Tourism and Mr Trubridge's design allows the country to be marketed in innovative new ways.

A popular fishing competition which earlier this year led to a winner being asked to take a lie-detector test has rewritten the rules

Firefighters are working in warm conditions to douse the fire at Te Hauke, south of Hastings.

Final repairs were made this morning to high voltage lines which were brought down when a light plane crashed, killing the two people on board.

An area of Napier Port has been cordoned off while firefighters deal with a chemical spill.

It was Hawke's Bay's only known fatal shark attack, and 120 years on the death of Bright Cooper is still shocking.

A group of three men armed with knives stormed a store in Napier.

Hawke's Bay Regional Council has backed down from prosecuting Hastings District Council over water breaches relating to the gastro

Hearings on the Hastings District Council's intention to use a Brookvale bore to augment Havelock North's water supply in coming months

GNS Science says the probability of a big quake has increased following the Kaikoura earthquake.

A joint summit on Heretaunga Plains water issues is an opportunity to start changing the way people think about water, says Green

A man and two female friends were lucky to all return to shore relatively unscathed after getting into trouble in choppy seas about a kilometre off Napier port.

Karl Henderson found himself locked outside his burning shop when he realised his dog Stella was stuck inside. Wife Tracy had woken

The Eastern and Central Community Trust has given an injection of funds to help multiple local projects get on their way. The Porangahau

Laver and Wood have launched an equity crowdfunding campaign on PledgeMe with goals to expand the business and step up their social media for both local and overseas customers. Made with funding from NZ On Air.

Laver and Wood have launched an equity crowdfunding campaign on PledgeMe with goals to expand the business and step up their social media for both local and overseas customers. Made with funding from NZ On Air.

The kids at Onekawa Plunket are the latest victim, as the rate of crime grows across the Eastern Policing District. Made with funding from NZ On Air.

The kids at Onekawa Plunket are the latest victim, as the rate of crime grows across the Eastern Policing District. Made with funding from NZ On Air.

Parts of the North Island are expected to hit 30 degrees today, with Hawke's Bay getting the biggest dose of the sun's rays.