In "clean, green New Zealand" just 72 per cent of rivers, streams and lakes are considered safe for swimming and it will remain that way for a while.

A man is missing after he got into difficulty in the water tonight at Muriwai beach on Auckland's west coast.

Biscuiting outing on Murray River goes horribly wrong for Brendon Demmocks.

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.

Judge blasts company's measures to prevent chemicals running into stream as 'completely inadequate'.

Live crabs, stink bugs and ''miracle water'' are some of the most bizarre things intercepted at NZ's border.

Although he faced criticism over controversial Hawke's Bay Regional Council actions, suggestions chief executive Andrew Newman was

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

A Warriors' team fishing trip turned into a dramatic rescue mission when the players rushed to the aid of a young man who went missing off an Auckland beach.

The body of missing woman Barbara Thomson has been found by police.

Residents of Oratia are fighting a proposal by Auckland's water company to take their homes for a $300 million-plus water-treatment plant.

Wastewater has leaked at the popular Wellington surf beach of Lyall Bay.

A shark was spotted lurking in knee-deep water in the Bay of Plenty today.

Endurance athletes looking to improve their times might consider swishing with a mouth rinse that contains a little sugar during their next performance.

Engineers in Northern California are frantically trying to repair "patch and pray" quick-fixes which led to the Oroville Dam's near collapse.

Dust may be responsible for the widespread chlorination of the Napier water supply. After being chlorinated for the past couple of

SUP140217NADFISH01.JPG or SUP140217NADFISH02.JPG The 170 flounder found in a Northland stream have disgusted Whangaruru locals. PHOTO/SUPPLIED. By

"They told us not to worry. All was good," said Ron Stork.

Regional climate variability caused an unusual period in which some of NZ's glaciers grew bigger, while glaciers worldwide were shrinking, a new study shows.

The parents of the boy who was decapitated when riding America's tallest water slide speak out for the first time and share his final words.

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

Unison restored power to about 700 customers last night after it was cut during the blaze along Waimarama Rd. Unison relationship

With approvals granted, the fight for those against the Dakota Access pipeline shifts to the courts.

The Police National Dive Squad is on its way to Lake Rotoiti to help look for a person who was seen to "go under" on Lake Rotoiti yesterday.

Hundreds of volunteers last night kept a vigil over 120 whales restranded on Farewell Spit near Golden Bay.

Twenty pilot whales have beached themselves again and will be euthanised, DoC said, as volunteers are warned to be careful around decomposing whales.

A woman has been rescued after getting into trouble in a Napier waterway this afternoon.

An east Auckland public pool will close for a blessing this afternoon, following the death of a young man at the facility yesterday.

All 100 of the surviving beached whales at Farewell Spit have been successfully refloated as volunteers scrambled to stop another pod swimming into shore.