The trial has begun of a freezing worker accused of shooting dead his brother and driving around the lower North Island with him in the back seat, avoiding police during a two-day manhunt.

A hospital emergency department is being investigated after a doctor filled out a "do not resuscitate" order, allegedly without consent.

A mother is calling for a city council to take action after a falling football goal crossbar broke all but one bone in her son's face.

A gathering ended with near-tragedy when a vehicle ploughed into a crowd on a remote rural road outside re-elected Manawatu district mayor Ian McKelvie's property.

NIWA's latest seasonal outlook predicts temperatures in all regions are likely to be above average from October to December.

Hundreds of North Island homes have been hit by power cuts as high winds continue to lash regions still reeling from the weekend's storm.

No less than 18 All Blacks are about to start filtering back into the national provincial championship.

Police investigating the killing of Manawatu farmer Scott Guy have moved the focus of their investigation to Invercargill.