Heavy downpours are keeping North Island fire crews busy tonight, with reports coming in of residents climbing to higher ground to escape flooding in the Coromandel.

The vehicles collided at the intersection of Swanson Rd and Metcalfe Rd, Swanson, about 1.45pm.

A building has been severely damaged in a fire at a West Auckland beach this morning, with fire crews rushing to the scene at 9.46am.

Firefighters have rescued a baby who was trapped under a deck in West Auckland this afternoon.

The Fire Service is attending a large house fire in West Auckland.

Two-parent Maori families have more supportive friends and family than any other New Zealanders, research has found.

A pedestrian is in a serious condition after being hit by a car in Henderson in west Auckland this afternoon.

A parole recall warrant has been issued for a West Auckland woman and police are appealing for help to locate her.

A charter school set up to lift success needed government mediation after whanau complained the school didn't have the cultural expertise required to teach their children.

A 23-year-old man will appear in court tomorrow after another man was stabbed at a property in West Auckland late this afternoon.

Witnesses said officers had arrived at the Mt Albert Superette around 7pm and had now taped it off, sparking concerns of a robbery.

The teenager found guilty of killing a West Auckland shopkeeper will have his name hidden from the public permanently.

The Fire Service is trying to contain to an ammonia leak in West Auckland

A man is under police guard at North Shore Hospital and a woman in custody after officers were shot at three times in a four-minute chase in west Auckland overnight.

Police responding to reports of an aggravated robbery at a jewellery store have arrested two men after a short chase.

Firefighters successfully contained a large fire in the Auckland suburb of Glendene last night. It took seventeen fire crew to extinguish the fire at a house on Bancroft Ave after they were called to the blaze about 9pm.

A 10-year-old boy sent to his room to practise his times tables accidentally started a fatal house fire by playing with a lighter.

Fire that claimed the life of respected member of the Tuvaluan community in West Auckland is believed to have been caused by children playing with a lighter.

An investigation into a house fire in Ranui last night is centred around a bedroom where a cigarette lighter was found.

Bikes worth almost $160,000 taken from West Auckland warehouse in a heist that could have taken up to six hours.

A man who died at a West Auckland house fire last night was trying to rescue children from the blaze.

An Auckland firefighter who has been to "thousands" of call-outs has found out in the worst way possible what it's like to be on the other end of the emergency.

An Auckland kindergarten has devised an out of the box way to raise funds for its new playground.

West Auckland couple who had sentimental baby gear stolen out of their car on the North Shore earlier this week say: "We have been blessed by many very kind Kiwis".

West Auckland couple Gareth and Belcy Hayter, excitedly awaiting the arrival of their first child, have had two bags of baby gear stolen from their car.

Clamping is out at the Titirangi supermarket where shoppers threatened a boycott over the parking enforcement strategy.

A pedestrian is in a critical condition after being struck by a car in west Auckland last night.