A woman who paid an ex-gang member to beat up her daughter's partner and her brother who organised the assault were jailed today.

Police have withdrawn a charge of being a party to the murder of Raymond Piper against the teenage son of a man who has admitted the killing.

A 51-year-old unemployed man today pleaded guilty to the murder of Raymond Piper. Mr Piper went missing from the Wellington home of his former partner on May 15.

The sister of murdered Paraparaumu man Raymond Piper says the family are relieved his body appears to have been found today, four months after he went missing.

A glider pilot escaped injury after a crash landing in Paraparaumu this morning.

A couple who split up after winning $1.3 million in Lotto are heading for a courtroom showdown to settle a bitter legal feud.

Police say they have evidence missing Kapiti man Raymond Piper has died a violent death.

Raymond 'Son' Piper has not been seen since May 15 when he disappeared from Paraparaumu.

Police are still working through possible sightings of a vehicle that might have been involved in the disappearance of missing Kapiti Coast man Raymond 'Son' Piper.

An "aging train fleet" is the reason for cancellations and delays on Wellington's rail network this morning, KiwiRail says.

The southerly which cut power to Wellington residents last night has moved north but fresh gales are expected in the lower South Island.