Latest from North Island

Sprinklers banned throughout North

Sprinklers, unattended hoses and automatic irrigation systems have been banned on all properties connected to Far North District Council

Get set for the wet: Front to hit NZ

Residents in parts of the country have been warned to brace for widespread flooding, slips and fast-rising rivers as a power-packed, mid-week weather system hits.

Kids' presents, food stolen in burglary

Horiana Rophia is crushed someone has entered her new rental home in Dannevirke and stolen the food from her cupboards, most intended

Whangarei shop sells winning ticket

Priti Patel and husband Hitesh were pretty excited when they discovered they'd sold a winning First Division Lotto ticket - but it's

Sizzling summer temperature hits 31c

Weather forecasters predicted it would be a sizzling Sunday afternoon in Northland and they were right, with the mercury hitting

Tongariro bus crash: Tour boss speaks

Most of those injured in yesterday's Tongariro National Park bus crash have been discharged from hospital, tour boss says.

Bus crash tourists 'lucky' - fire chief

The National Park fire chief has described the scene of this morning's Tongariro National Park bus crash.

Unsettled and muggy day forecast

Multiple severe weather warnings and watches were issued yesterday as a cold front looks set to put a dampener on summer.

Shellfish off menu on North's east coast

A stretch of Northland's east coast is out of bounds for gathering or eating shellfish due to dangerous levels of toxins found in samples.

Red-light runner almost hits mum, kids

A Whangarei mum is pleading with the city's drivers to take more care after a red-light runner nearly hit her children. Lacey Owen

Claims iPhone cause of car blaze

A Napier man says an iPhone 5 caught fire and destroyed his car.

Torched car leads to two-hectares blaze

A car being torched is thought to have caused a blaze firefighters spent all night bringing under control at Pipiwai and which forced a family to flee their home.

Hunt for yachtie and daughter continues

A child recovery expert is notifying coastal areas in Australia to be on the look out for missing yachtie Alan Langdon and daughter Que.

Our holiday weather explained

Dr Brett Mullan of the National Institute of Water and Atmosphere (NIWA) explains our holiday season weather and warming world.

Firefighters plead with people to get permits

Firefighters are pleading with people in the top half of the North Island to get a permit before lighting fires outside.

Quake shakes Bay of Plenty awake

Hundreds of people have reported being shaken awake this morning in Bay of Plenty.

Power lines block Porirua road

A trio of trees have toppled power lines and led to a Porirua road being closed as repair crew arrive to clear the scene.

Langdon open about plans to flee Kawhia

Alan Langdon was open about his quest to flee Kawhia so that he couldn't be found - but he didn't mention 6-year-old daughter, Que, in his plans.