As searchers tried desperately to find diver Robbie Farquhar, his two young children were on the beach watching and waiting for their dad to come home.

A police office's dramatic rescue of two boys and a man stuck in a rip at a Bay of Plenty beach is a reminder for water users to be aware of the dangers, police say.

The Prime Minister was never more wrong last year than when he declared the Government could ignore a recommendation of the Waitangi Tribunal.

Family members of a Northland father and son caught in rough weather when their jetski broke down headed back out to retrieve the jetski after the rescue.

Rain-starved fruitgrowers in the Hawke's Bay say they're willing to breach water restrictions in a desperate attempt to save their crops.

The New Zealand Maori Council has been given leave to appeal to the Supreme Court over water rights.

A "brave'' surfer who risked his life to save swimmers dragged out to sea was forced to let go of a young man to save the man's girlfriend.

The Maori Council has lost its initial legal bid to delay the partial privatisation of Mighty River Power until Maori water rights are dealt with but is already working on an appeal.

High-level discussions are taking place to stop councils providing water services and pass control to a handful of companies run on commercial lines.

Thousands of athletes have been training for the State Harbour Crossing in Auckland and tomorrow it's time to put that hard work to the test.

The Maori Council's challenge to the Government's partial asset sales plan is likely to bypass the Court of Appeal and go directly to the Supreme Court early next year in order to meet the looming deadline for the sale of Mighty River Power.

The Maori Council's High Court bid to halt the sale of Mighty River Power ended in Wellington today with a decision likely before Christmas.

Watercare Services has received 765 complaints since radical changes on July 1 to the way Aucklanders pay for water.