A drunk teenage driver who crossed a median strip and collided with a Toyota Hilux admits killing his friend in the smash.

Most New Zealanders prefer the retention of the name Wanganui and no change to Whanganui, a poll released today says.

A man has been arrested after a gunman threatened bank tellers and fled with an unknown amount of cash this morning.

A severe weather warning is issued for the lower North Island while police warn of surface flooding in Auckland.