Seattle's an economic engine, a leader in sustainability and a hub for culture and creativity, writes Dr Ann Bartos and John Mauro. It could easily be Auckland.

A Papakaio family on board a boat that sank on Lake Benmore on Sunday, have been praised for their safety precautions and keeping calm during the ordeal.

Up close, after it has travelled more than 300km, the Waikato River is so muddy that you cannot see your feet if you are standing just knee-deep beside its banks.

Auckland plans to spend $4.8 billion over the next 10 years on water projects as the city's population grows.

Three boaties were rescued after their vessel sank near the entrance to Wellington Harbour this afternoon.

Maritime New Zealand says it is working with the fishing industry to develop new safety systems that may make wearing lifejackets compulsory when crossing bars such as the dangerous Grey River.

A man who witnessed a car drive down a wharf and plunge into the Tamaki River in Auckland last night says he felt helpless as he watched the vehicle sink.

Rainbow Springs is great for a family 'splash out', says Dionne Christian.

Farms, homes and roads would be totally submerged in a massive dam lake under proposed irrigation plans for Wairarapa.

Wellington's water ban has been lifted almost four weeks since sprinklers fell silent across the capital.

Beachside is best in Sydney, finds Jo Bates.

People are committing suicide, losing their homes and suffering heart attacks and strokes, because of one bad spending decision by a group of "country bumpkin" councillors.

Almost 180 Christchurch landowners have chosen not to accept the Crown offers on their red-zoned properties.

When people like the PM talk of an orderly transition to a post-smelter environment, they are talking about the scrapping of generating capacity, writes Brian Fallow.

Prime Minister John Key says it will be "bleak" for Canterbury residents who chose not to take up the Government's buy-out offer for land in the red zone.

Rain will bring some relief to drought-stricken farms this week, but the seasonal outlook is for dry conditions to linger well into autumn.

InTehran RTS Labs is developing a ship-based quadcopter designed to rescue people at risk of drowning.

The Greater Wellington Regional Council says a hold up in water restrictions for the region being put in place is down to the Wellington City Council.

The head of a Navy team using sonar to search for aircraft wreckage says it's possible the bodies of 2degrees' boss Eric Hertz and his wife Kathy may never be found.

The bodies of 2degrees chief executive Eric Hertz and his wife, Kathy, who died when their plane ditched off Kawhia on Saturday, may never be recovered.

Citizens of Auckland and Wellington will be surprised to learn that water fluoridation is still an issue for the rest of the country.

The mood is sombre in the South Taranaki District council chambers. Their decision-making is under scrutiny by concerned locals just a couple of metres away in the public gallery.

Danielle Wright meets young ocean swimmers competing in the 10th King of the Bays event at Takapuna Beach.

Wellington's water shortage is looking less dire after an overwhelming response to water conservation messages.