A group of endangered New Zealand dotterels have begun nesting at a Piha site where the tiny native birds' biggest threat - dogs - are allowed to roam off-leash during the day.

A body has washed up on Muriwai Beach, north-west of Auckland, this afternoon.

The man in his mid 20s disappeared near Lion Rock just after 6pm last night.

Conditions were "messy" were two people got into trouble at Piha yesterday, a resident said.

The search for the missing man will resume this morning.

Parents recall the day their 5-year-old boy died at Piha - a place he loved for the freedom it gave him.

The child who died in a "tragic accident" at Piha on Saturday was found on rocks.

The 2012-kilometre tractor journey, Expedition South, to help raise $1 million to save Sir Edmund Hillary's hut in Antarctica has finished alongside Sir Ed's statue at The Hermitage in Mt Cook. The three tractors — two Ferguson TE20s and a Massey Ferguson Antarctica 2 — ended their journey at 2pm this afternoon.

Seabed mining is back in the spotlight as Trans Tasman Resources submits second application for consent to mine off the South Taranaki coast.

Five off-duty lifeguards have been honoured for their rescue of an unconscious woman in rough seas at Piha on Auckland's west coast.

Police do not believe there are any suspicious circumstances surrounding the death of a person whose body was found on an Auckland beach today.

Driver toots horn to help emergency services locate them after car plunges off road to Piha.

Two people escaped serious injury after their car went down a bank on Piha Rd near Piha Beach in northwest Auckland tonight.

It sits on nearly 14ha of sprawling ridgetop land commanding dramatic views over Piha's sentinel Lion Rock and the churning Tasman Sea.

A trapped tramper was winched to safety after spending the night on a rock ledge as wild seas surged around him.

A public health warning has been issued for a picturesque West Auckland lagoon amid fears the water is contaminated by leaking septic tanks from baches.

When your job description involves saving lives, you need to be well-equipped.

Private beach and bush land near Piha has been added to the Waitakere Ranges Regional Park in a $3 million purchase by Auckland Council.

A couple have been rescued from a west Auckland cliff face after a woman fell while the pair were trying to avoid a king tide.

Jack Johnson isn’t your typical rock star – he breaks the mould in terms of how the well-off behave.

More than 1000 people turned up at one of Auckland's famous west coast beaches to protest against deep sea oil drilling in New Zealand waters today.

A woman who fell 15 metres from Lion Rock at Piha yesterday was outside the safety barriers, emergency services say.

Catherine Smith looks at some of the new facilities and activities on offer in Auckland's regional parks.

Piha has much to offer besides Lion Rock and wild surf and, as it's only 40km from central Auckland, it’s an ideal location for a long weekend away, writes Rachel Grunwell.

Two men have drowned in the surf at Piha Beach and a third man rescued from the water is in a serious condition.

Gisborne's Jay Quinn claimed his third national surfing title yesterday, winning the open men's division of the 2013 Hyundai championships at Piha.

Danielle Wright traces a well-worn path to the Kitekite Falls, with a history lesson along the way.