COMMENT: Jamie Whyte feels our legislators have embarrassed themselves.

The consent allows its new owner to extract 4.3 million litres of water a day until 2032.

Isaac Davison examines the departure of three groups from the Land and Water Forum advisory group.

The skies are beginning to clear after last night's storm, but the respite may be short-lived, with thunderstorms and more heavy rain forecast for later today.

No major damage from yesterday's storm, but there's more on the way.

Forest and Bird says most rivers and streams are excluded from Government's plan to clean up waterways.

Some say the Government's water-quality proposals are not ambitious enough, but others - including farmers - are cautiously optimistic.

COMMENT: The Environment Minister's promise to make 90 per cent of rivers swimmable by 2040 is a cynical sleight of hand, writes Gen Toop from Greenpeace.

COMMENT: The Government's plan to clean up waterways is an attempt to look as though action's being taken, when in reality nothing's happening, says Mark Dye.

Bill English may lift the minimum standard for NZ's rivers and streams.

Preparing New Zealand's water stores for a warmer climate is a major focus of new research projects just awarded more than $2 million.

Searchers are poised to go into the Southern Alps for an overdue Israeli tramper.

An east Auckland creek is full of dead fish and eels after a sewage leak caused by someone flushing wet wipes down the toilet.

Drowning a tragedy but dam flood to remain open as an attraction, says Taupo mayor.

A drone has been used to search for a missing 19-year-old who was swept away during a night swim in the Hutt River last night.

These are the high points from Labour and Greens' State of the Nation speeches this afternoon.

Kiwis "must be vigilant" about swimming in our rivers, a freshwater scientist says, with data often showing high levels of E. coli in waterways.

MAIN PIC MC270117NADSUP1.JPGStand up paddle boarder Marcus Hansen will soon be swapping the tranquil waters of Whangarei's Town Basin

The state of our rivers and lakes has predictably come under intensified focus this summer, as Kiwis head to their favourite watering holes.

Residents in parts of the country have been warned to brace for widespread flooding, slips and fast-rising rivers as the mid-week weather system hits.

The city council is applying to Environment Canterbury to continue discharging untreated wastewater into the waterways and harbours in emergencies.

The tourism industry's biggest challenge is coping with record growth and finding ways to fund infrastructure.

A controversial Greenpeace TV ad has been given the green light after the dairy industry attempted to shut it down.

It is an uncontroversial fact that the state of the country's freshwater resources has for decades been moving towards ecological collapse.

Creating "designer" ecosystems for degraded waterways could boost river restoration efforts around the country.

Search and rescue members using night vision goggles spotted the man floating on his malfunctioning jet-ski at around 2am.

Geonet say there is a 98 per cent chance of an aftershock of 6 to 6.9 magnitude in the next year.

A grassroots environment group is ramping up a lobbying campaign for more stringent "bottom line" rules around freshwater quality.

A Lord of the Rings actor who now works as a tour guide operator has slammed New Zealand's "clean, green" image.

Repairs to South Island stopbanks damaged in the Kaikōura earthquake is expected to cost nearly $700,000.