Police say the Napier-Taupo highway will stay closed until all of the abandoned cars have been removed.

Two major highways may re-open this afternoon after unseasonal heavy snow in the last two days stranded motorists for two nights.

Motorists who spent a freezing night in their snow-trapped cars on the Napier-Taupo Highway are rescued.

A terminally-ill 1080 protester has ended a protest on Mt Tongariro and is returning to his family.

From the air, the Orakei Korako thermal area looked like a giant pallette some monster artist had left lying on the banks of Lake Ohakuri.