Traffic leaving central Wellington is gridlocked as commuters scramble to leave the rain-battered city.

A number of schools have been closed due to flooding, affecting some students due to sit exams after afternoon.

A string of motorists is stranded on State Highway 2 as authorities across the Wellington region prepare for evacuations.

Two men have appeared in court in relation to a string of aggravated robberies in Porirua. A 42-year old man appeared in the Porirua

A Massey University lecturer has been sentenced on a charge of dangerous driving causing injury.

Despite feeding her family on a tight budget, this Porirua mum is changing lives with her food parcel initiative.

Kathryn Nevatt held her breath for seven minutes and 45 seconds while floating face down in Porirua pool, setting a new national record.

A Wellington firefighter had to be winched from steep terrain after a cat took exception to being rescued from a macrocarpa tree.

Around $2.1 million will be invested to build a total of six new classrooms at schools in the Wellington and Kapiti regions, Education Minister Hekia Parata announced today.

Unlocked vehicles parked in driveways and open garages and sheds have repeatedly been targeted in Porirua and Kapiti, say police.

Watch NZH Focus: NZ police are urging calm over creepy clown sightings as a sociologist explains the "social panic" that can give rise to such epidemics.

Three boys were playing basketball at a school last night when they saw a man lurking behind a building.

Health authorities are considering plans to move mental health patient Ashley Peacock, to the dismay of his parents.

Marae, women's refuges and other social agencies have won funding to house 3000 homeless families and individuals a year in the latest

Emergency services are waiting for a power authority to arrive before they can rescue a person from a car that crashed into a pole in Porirua.

Think you have bad neighbours? This woman got an anonymous note about out two 'shabby' cars in her driveway.

A worker was stabbed in the neck during a robbery at a Porirua business tonight.

Roads are closed north of Wellington due to waves from a Porirua inlet lapping at the road.

A litter of 11 young puppies has been found soaking wet and cold on a pathway after being dumped in Porirua.

Man accused of forcing his way into a 65-year-old woman's Porirua home and subjecting her to a prolonged sexual attack will have his fitness to plead assessed.

A petrol explosion at a house where an 11-year-old boy was seriously burned was heard in neighbouring streets.

A man arrested for allegedly forcing his way into a woman's Porirua home and subjecting her to a prolonged sexual attack will keep his name secret for now.

Police are likely to tomorrow again door-knock neighbours of a Porirua woman subjected to a prolonged and horrific sexual assault in her home.

Marking World Refugee Day, the Herald spoke to a refugee family who escaped from Laos to New Zealand 33 years ago, risking their lives to do so.

The Porirua house where Pita Tekira shot police dog Gazza was badly damaged in a fire last night.

Central District Police are eagerly awaiting a new recruit - the niece or nephew of slain police dog Gazza.

The body of the man involved in a 26-hour armed stand-off in Wellington will be returned to Hawke's Bay today.

Police have just been seen carrying a pistol out of a house on Kokiri Cres.

A dramatic standoff in Porirua led to the death of a police dog and serious injury of an officer.

A Porirua woman has been sentenced to 12 months home detention for killing her partner during a domestic violence incident.