The beef processing plant badly damaged by fire at Te Aroha, near Hamilton, overnight may be rebuilt into a world-class plant, owner Silver Fern Farms says.

Photos from the fire at the Silver Fern Farms freezing works in Te Aroha, Waikato.

There are quite a few things to love about Te Aroha, writes Rachel Grunwell.

All five people in the car had been drinking and the driver said she lost control after being distracted by a passenger.

Heavy rain has caused widespread flooding in Auckland, Coromandel and the Bay of Plenty with one family trapped in their car having to be rescued by firefighters.