Better an utter, total if humiliating backdown than a messy compromise that keeps the mining issue alive into election year.

Drivers are being urged to take extra care on the roads after two cars became stranded in Coromandel floodwaters this morning.

Anamarie Ewins wants to deliver another sporting milestone for New Zealand and become the first woman to row solo across the Tasman.

Flooding is worsening on the Coromandel Peninsula, with rain warnings in place across much of the North Island.

Police used a taser on a 46-year-old man who was inflicting injuries on himself at a Coromandel Peninsula settlement today.

MetService has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for the top half of the North Island.

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.

Plant business run by local identities and family home for sale.

Heavy rain and gales are expected to lash the main islands from tonight, with the MetService warning of one of the "bigger weather events" for some time.

Don't put the umbrellas away just yet. A storm bringing more heavy rain and winds is on its way to parts of the North Island.

The Coromandel is promising cheap RWC accommodation rates that will undercut Auckland packages reaching into the thousands.

Hundreds of students gathered to farewell their 16-year-old mate "Webby", who died after binge-drinking vodka at the weekend.

A dreadful feeling came over Penny Webster when she saw the police car pull up outside her Thames home.