We have a family pass valued at $390 for two adults and two children to venture out to one of the most diverse marine parks in the world - Auckland's own Hauraki Gulf.

DoC was forced to end the misery of seven whales that re-beached themselves at Rarawa Bay.

More than half of the 24 whales being refloated in the Far North this evening have made it into the water, but three have died.

Volunteers last night comforted stranded whales that had been moved from a Far North beach to a nearby stream.

The recent severe weather may have played a part in the birth of a zebra at Auckland Zoo.

Gales and heavy rain pounding the North Island have shattered weather records, and winds last night hampered rescue efforts after a mass whale stranding at the northern tip of NZ.

More than 40 of the 80 pilot whales stranded at Spirits Bay have died and the rest will have to be relocated by road because of rough weather conditions.

DOC staff are scrambling to get enough help to save up to 30 whales still stranded at Spirits Bay, north of Kaitaia. At least 43 have died.

The woman who provoked outrage by dumping a cat in a rubbish bin has been charged with two criminal offences, the RSPCA in Britain said today.

A cat has had a miraculous escape from the middle of the Northwestern Motorway in West Auckland.

Ross Allan says his children are distraught after their $1000 Abyssinian moggy was shot dead by a neighbour who thought it was feral.

Helena McAlpine's garden gate is broken and her dog has been roaming the neighbourhood.

In a disaster, cats head for the hills, but dogs stick around, according to SPCA figures out today.