Armed robbers are targeting two small communities near Auckland, including one holdup in which a terrified golf instructor tried desperately to get his boss' attention over a live security camera as he was being tied up by the gunman.

A decomposed body found at a dangerous west Auckland surf beach on Good Friday has been identified as Unitec student Rhyan Rego.

A body has been pulled from the water after a light plane crashed into the ocean near Orewa Beach, north of Auckland. Pieces of the wreckage are washing up on the beach.

An Orewa eco-friendly development has received resource consent for a 14-unit apartment block - before a public hearing on the merits of relaxing building controls.

Former National leader Don Brash attacked Maori in a provocative speech at Orewa last night.

A former All Black, now a chiropractor, has been convicted for fraudulently billing ACC for treatment sessions his clients never received.

Orewa's central business district has re-opened after being locked down amid fears there may have been a chemical spill.

A recidivist drink driver was today jailed for four years for killing a Northland mother while driving with nearly double the legal alcohol limit.

Plenty of potential in heart of Orewa's retail precinct, writes Colin Taylor.

Orewa College's board of trustees has been ordered to pay almost $137,000 over a fatal boiler room explosion.