Thousands of fans who took the train to last week's 'family friendly' Rugby World Cup opening celebrations had a horrifying night they would rather forget.

A man has been charged with the murder of a 23-year-old woman shot at her home in Otaki Beach yesterday.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is investigating the cause of a helicopter crash which left a pilot with head injuries after it came down north of Levin this morning.

Two people are dead and five others have been taken to hospital after a vehicle carrying seven people rolled this morning near Foxton.