The fight for a better summer is going all the way to the Beehive.

A rescue helicopter had to winch a woman off a cruise ship in the Cook Strait shortly after midnight today. Life Flight Westpac Rescue

Woman had to be winched off ship in the Cook Strait by rescue helicopter.

Missing man was "always pushing the limits", says shocked friend.

The family of a man missing at sea after the inflatable boat he was on capsized, say they are in limbo as they wait - and hope - to get him back.

A 53-year-old man has been arrested after several cars parked near Wellington Airport had their tyres punctured or slashed in recent months in an ongoing feud over parking.

Police are hunting for a man with a distinctive scar on his face who they want to talk to about burglaries in Wellington.

Female teacher before tribunal on charges of forming inappropriate relationships with a male and at least one female students.

Wheelchair-bound woman only wanted to sit at front of concert, say organisers.

The search for second person, who is still missing after an inflatable boat capsized in a river on the Kapiti Coast, will resume this morning.

Police have closed a section of Vivian St in Wellington after a piece of glass fell from a building and landed on a parked car.

The November earthquake was the likely cause of a leak affecting the main water supply pipe to Wellington City.

Rugby fans could face accommodation and transport nightmares for the British and Irish Lions' tour of New Zealand.

Police are investigating allegations of an elaborate online car sales scam.

Police probing the murder Lois Tolley have identified the owner of a white ute as part of their ongoing investigation.

Kiwi women will take to the streets today, to add their voices to international calls for Donald Trump to stop the hate his election campaign sparked.

Nearly 5000 people are now in the queue for social housing across the country.

Police are looking for people to identify the owners of clothing and a ute in the case of murdered Upper Hutt woman Lois Tolley.

Two people in a car which was shielding a longboarder from traffic before fatally hitting him were sentenced today.

Readers have responded to controversial remarks by businessman Sir Bob Jones whose comments included that beggars were "fat Maoris" and a "bloody disgrace".

A young German couple have been left scrambling for emergency passports needed for a trip home next week after thieves broke into their campervan.

Wellington Zoo's kea have been getting used to their brand new aviary - by seeing what things they can destroy.

More than 20,000 students asked for an emergency derived grade following the Kaikoura earthquake.

Residents in parts of the country have been warned to brace for widespread flooding, slips and fast-rising rivers as the mid-week weather system hits.

Three people are injured after a pile-up north of Wellington.

The Taxpayers' Union has praised the Wellington City Council for turning down former Mayor Celia Wade-Brown's leaving gift request.

Doctors' strike at 18 DHBs to disrupt care for thousands of patients

Residents in parts of the country have been warned to brace for widespread flooding, slips and fast-rising rivers as a power-packed, mid-week weather system hits.

The case of a 14-year-old autistic boy being held in police cells overnight because there was nowhere else to put him is "appalling", an autism advocate says.

Police are confident they have caught Lois Tolley's killers on camera.