The American mother and daughter lost in the bush for four days spelled out the word "help" in a bush clearing.

A mother and daughter who became lost in a North Island bush had to huddle together for warmth and ration their supplies after the terrain became impenetrable.

The car driven by a mother and daughter missing since Wednesday has been found at an entrance to a hiking track in the Tararua range.

First it was White Island's crater lake that was making scientists sit up - and now it is the one atop Mt Ruapehu.

Police are appealing for the driver of a white utility vehicle to come forward after a man was killed when a car and truck collided in rural Waikato today.

The trial of Kamal Reddy has heard that cash was being withdrawn from a woman's account after she had disappeared.

Lifeguards made 581 rescues at beaches between Ahipara in the Far North and Raglan in the Waikato this summer.

The eruption on the volcanic island appears to have deposited material over north side of the crater floor.

Dargaville High School principal David Kenneth Bargh has been convicted and fined for lurking on the property of a female teacher at night.

Several cars smashed their way into a service station overnight, leaving a worker cowering in a back room.

A trial for a man accused of murdering his ex-partner and her daughter has had an unexpected delay after a juror was sent home.

City bound traffic is heavily congested on the Northwestern Motorway back to Hobsonville after a crash near Rosebank Rd.

Sunny skies have been forecast for most parts of the country tomorrow but don't forget to bring a jacket to morning Anzac parades.

The one-car incident happened in South Auckland.

A motorcyclist is in critical condition after colliding with a car on State Highway One in Northland.

An act of "absolute stupidity and dangerous driving" by a fleeing motorist put innocent lives at risk, Northland's top traffic officer says.

Floodwaters have receded after heavy downpours kept emergency services busy last night with Coromandel residents climbing to higher ground.

Heavy downpours are keeping North Island fire crews busy tonight, with reports coming in of residents climbing to higher ground to escape flooding in the Coromandel.

A woman has been flown to hospital by helicopter after she was injured in a head-on crash north of Wellington this afternoon.

Police are investigating an "incident" at a North Shore primary school involving a young pupil.

A public swimming pool complex in Whangarei has been blessed by a kaumatua following the death of a man earlier today.

MetService warns those living in northern and eastern regions may be dodging showers.

GeoNet reported the earthquake hit just after 6.45pm with a depth of 25km. Its intensity was classified as light but likely felt.

The car flipped on State Highway 30 near Lake Rotoiti Forest.

A wet day is in store for much of the North Island today.

Much of Nasie Bayley's 19 years have been spent fighting for her life, against a condition so rare she is the only known sufferer in the world.

Up to 300 bee hives may have been poisoned in the Far North as soaring numbers of beekeepers chasing "liquid gold" ratchet up tensions in the industry.

Jetstar passengers stranded at Hawke's Bay Airport after flight leaves ahead of departure time.

We were asked to keep our heads down, follow the path and walk single file with no talking.

Former Hawkes Bay primary principal censured for failing to alert authorities to allegations a teacher had molested young pupils.