A coroner has called for the Government to immediately investigate making the wearing of helmets compulsory and tightening other safety regulations.

Firefighters have contained a large scrub fire in Masterton which was burning on about six hectares of land.

Electricity has been restored to the 5500 Wairarapa households that suffered power cuts after strong winds snapped power poles yesterday.

A former Marist teaching brother was today found guilty of 11 historic sex offences by a jury in the High Court at Wellington.

Minor damage was reported in Masterton and near Otaki after a 5.4-magnitude earthquake this afternoon.