Auckland Council has spent $12,300 on preparations to chop a limb off a pohutukawa tree that is obstructing a West Auckland footpath. But that money's now been wasted.

Don't let the cold weather keep you from the royal waves.

Photos from the Surf Lifesaving New Zealand champs - Final Round of the Surf Boat Series held at Piha on Saturday, February 25.

The police are laying their ghosts to rest with different methods and a fresh culture, report Catherine Masters and Jared Savage

New images have emerged of the rip that a Piha surfing instructor took a group of teenagers into on Monday, sparking criticism from surf lifesavers at the west Auckland beach.

Stills from footage taken by a Piha local of 'extremely rough' conditions when a group of eight teens were taken into a rip by a surfing instructor.

Susan Edmunds takes to the water with a surf school - and manages to do without Piha Rescue.

Surf Life Saving NZ's Big Wave Classic held at Piha.

Awhitu Lighthouse, on a beautiful peninsula on the south-western shores of the Manukau Harbour, has remarkable views of the coast.

At New Zealand's most famous surf beach - and the birthplace of modern surfing - an environmental battle is being fought on several fronts.

A new book by Shane Boocock features the best of adventure tourism in Auckland.

Canyoning with AWOL Adventures pushes you out of your comfort zone.

The wild west coast is worth a day trip with a couple of stops along the way, writes Libby Nicholson-Moon.

Living in Piha is a dream come true for serious surfers, but it's the sense of community, too, that makes it Craig Levers' favourite place to be. He tells his story to Peta Stavelli.

Big money is being lost on waterfront land sales.