Trio were doused in petrol and set alight during riot training.

Battered East Coast faces long months of recovery after a second major event in a year.

'There are large areas of flooding, slips, washouts and other hazards along the route.'

Graeme Hebley bought the car in 2000. It had only done 80,000kms at that point.

'He was a good bugger. He wasn't only my son, he was my mate,' says grieving father.

The last time Mt Ruapehu was moved to volcanic level 2 was in December 2020.

A major search and rescue operation is underway after a vessel got in trouble off North Cape. Video / NZ Herald

The dog was distressed but managed to keep out of the way of rescue efforts.

Several other people were hospitalised after road incidents around the North Island.

About 800 doctors and nurses at Wellington's hospitals off sick or in isolation this week.

Wairoa Hospital has no intensive care capacity or ventilators for severe Covid-19 cases.

Staff absences reach a critical point at Middlemore Hospital as Omicron surges.

Currently a heavy rain warning is in place for Fiordland.

Motorists are advised to avoid the area and expect delays.

Have an end of season holiday as the sunshine gives a last blessing to ripening grapes.

For the second weekend in a row Wellington is in for a drenching.

Haulage operator says reluctance from tow truck drivers isn't due to safety concerns.

Cyclone Dovi is to close roads and bring damage as emergency teams on standby.

Blue and white face coverings recycled into long-lasting fence posts.

In Auckland alone, there are 1218 Covid cases currently isolating at home.

The muggy weather won't peak until Saturday.

Friendly moggy vanished from his family's Auckland Viaduct apartment a decade ago.

Kaitāia, Dargaville and Whangārei not expected to dip below 23C all week.

Adding to the humidity, intense rain is forecast for east from Hawke's Bay to Coromandel.

The downpour on the West Coast of the South should ease.