Police smashed their way into a Masterton house this week and held a couple at gunpoint - only to discover the man they were after moved out months ago.

Severe thunderstorms were lashing parts of the upper North Island tonight following chaos further south, as a powerful storm moved across the country.

No less than 18 All Blacks are about to start filtering back into the national provincial championship.

Police say they are increasingly concerned about the behaviour of a man who has been exposing himself to teenage boys.

A 17-year-old woman has been arrested and charged with a number of attacks on Wellington taxi drivers.

Auckland lock Andrew Van der Heijden will appear at a judicial hearing tomorrow charged with alleged stamping.

Wellington police have launched an investigation after the discovery of a body in the suburb of Mount Victoria last night.

The body of a missing 25-year-old swimmer was discovered in Wellington's Oriental Bay today.

Kapiti Coast investment adviser Chris Lee has been ordered to pay property magnate Sir Robert Jones around $80,000 towards his defamation court costs.

APN News & Media, publisher of nzherald.co.nz, is today launching a nation-wide appeal for Christchurch earthquake victims.

All Whites captain Ryan Nelsen has confirmed his availability for New Zealand's two home soccer internationals next month.