Justine McLeary and her young family enjoy an adventurous weekend in Whakatane.

A former Mr New Zealand and Whakatane gym owner jailed for sex offences is a threat to "little innocent souls", according to one of his eight victims.

A 12-seater pane with three people on board has made an emergency landing at Whakatane Airport after reports of smoke on board.

Three officers were attacked in two incidents over the weekend - one in Whakatane only ended because a member of the public came to his aid.

It seems the sun always shines on the East Coast, writes Elisabeth Easther.

Which town looks set to keep its crown as New Zealand's sunshine capital? A new climate report shows one place well out in front.

Wild winds brought down a large palm tree at a Whakatane property early this morning, narrowly missing the house.

A Whakatane gang member is upset he has been told by his son's school he can no longer be a parent helper at his son's school camp.

Four of the five people charged with aggravated robbery for a Boxing Day attack on two German tourists in Whakatane have been sent to jail.

Burglars who stole guns from a Whakatane property last night repeatedly rammed police cars and even threw a chainsaw at pursuing officers as they made their getaway.

Visiting Whakatane, Elisabeth Easther discovered two isles literally fizzing with fabulousness.

A Kaitaia family were on their way to Gisborne to see if they could start a new life there when the car crashed into an oncoming truck, fatally injuring a 5-month-old baby.

A father frantically smashed car windows to get to his young children after the vehicle, which he had been following, crashed head-on with a truck.

A German couple beaten and robbed in their tent in Whakatane early this morning have received an "overwhelming'' number of offers of help.

Family of a boy missing after falling into the Whakatane River are holding a silent vigil on the river bank this morning.

A 27-year old woman will appear in the Whakatane District Court today facing charges of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm after a man was stabbed in Whakatane last night.

A false alarm that triggered Whakatane's tsunami warning system last night has prompted fears residents might ignore a genuine alert.

White Island has remained quiet overnight following yesterday's eruption, GeoNet says, but the activity could be part of a bigger sequence.

Civil Defence will monitor White Island (Whakari) following a small eruption which could be part of a sequence leading to a bigger event.

White Island sightseers are being warned another eruption could occur "at any time with little or no warning''.

There are days and nights of plenty on a steamy weekend in New Zealand’s sunshine capital, writes Paul Rush.

A crash that claimed the life of a Te Kaha man was a "shocker", a coroner says.