A coroner believes police could not have known how Jan Molenaar was going to react.

The police officers shot by Napier gunman Jan Molenaar did not take all possible precautions but could not have known how Molenaar was going to react, according to Coroner David Crerar.

Jan Molenaar asked police negotiators during his two-day shooting siege to let one of his childhood friends into his Napier house

A police inspector speaking at the inquest into the Napier gun seige said he believed it would end in a suicide or "suicide by police."

nzherald.co.nz's Edward Gay reports live from day two of the inquest into the Napier gun siege.

nzherald.co.nz's Edward Gay reports live from the inquest into the Napier gun siege.

When Brent Holder bought a block of industrial land 17 years ago he never would have guessed how it would cater for and adapt to his changing lifestyle.

Hollie Smith's beautiful new album Humour and The Misfortune Of Others, is released on Monday.

A teenage girl is in hospital with neck and abdominal injuries after a relative ran over her with a quad bike during a school fundraising ride.

Residents of two Hawkes Bay towns will be counting the cost of huge seas which ripped away parts of homes and eroded the road.

Hawkes Bay coastal residents are allowed to return home after high waves prompted evacuations.

Former All Black Murray Mexted said last night he was devastated after his Hawke's Bay bach was destroyed in a suspected arson attack.