This morning's M7.1 quake is the biggest to hit the north of the North Island in more than 20 years, when a M7.2 quake struck in a similar spot in 1995.

Locals wanting to help care for land, air, water, or wildlife are can apply to the Bay of Plenty Regional Council Environmental Enhancement

A newborn baby has been flown to hospital with serious head injuries.

Lisa Carrington has today been sharply reminded how difficult a challenge she'll face tomorrow if she's to complete a golden Rio Olympic kayak double.

WATCH: Kiwi kayak queen Lisa Carrington 'stoked' as she powers her way to back-to-back Olympic gold medals.

An elderly man has been picked up by rescue helicopter after he severely injured himself when his quad bike rolled.

A shipping container has been airlifted to White Island to provide visitors an emergency shelter in case of an eruption. The New

Whakatane police are looking for a masked man who robbed a dairy this afternoon armed with a knife.

A distraught mother screamed in fear as a man stole her car with her infant son asleep in the back, a court has heard.

The Bay of Plenty parents accused of causing the death of their 8-month-old baby boy will defend the allegation at a jury trial.

The Bay man accused of attempting to kill two police officers and also allegedly shot at four others is heading to trial.

One person has been killed in a crash near Whakatane this morning.

A toddler has been reunited with its caregiver after it was inside a car stolen in the Bay of Plenty.

The eruption on the volcanic island appears to have deposited material over north side of the crater floor.

An inquest into the forestry death of 19-year-old Eramiha Pairama has begun at Te Uru Taumatua in Taneatua.

Waikato police are investigating how the caravan 54-year-old Lydia Kiri was travelling in caught fire while driving along State Highway 24 near Te Poi.

A man has died after a workplace accident near Opotiki.

Elisabeth Easther's doing her bit to save the kiwis.

Investigations are set to continue into the blaze on board a tourist vessel just off Whakatane.

The quick actions of the skipper on the tour vessel that caught fire off Whakatane this week ultimately helped to ensure those on board could be rescued quickly.

Terrified passengers on a White Island tour boat leaped from blazing vessel into rough waters.

Elisabeth Easther takes a trip back to a time when flight was an adventure.

A man has been arrested after crashing into a police car near Whakatane this morning.

An officer activated their patrol car's flashing lights and siren, but the motorcyclist did not stop and sped away.

Whakatane police pull over driver who was more than eight times the legal limit.

A fire at Whakatane Intermediate School last night caused serious damage to one classroom.

Find out which New Zealand towns have grown the fastest over the past 80 years.

Tauranga and Whakatane have been New Zealand's fastest growing towns over the past 80 years.