Helen Lee lost her home in a raging bush fire but is positive for the future

Accidents kept the Auckland and Waikato rescue choppers on their toes.

Baby suffers stomach pain after swallowing battery.

Dr Nick Smith makes ELA harder to access. Made with funding from NZ On Air.

The man appeared to only have a broken arm after his car's 10m plunge, police said.

A 'stretch' to blame Whitianga Fire Station over Luke Cochrane's death.

Mental health advocates say more needs to be done. Made with funding from NZ On Air.

Helen Lee lost everything - now she's starting again. Made with Funding from NZ On Air

4.3 million plastic bags are used every day in NZ - Made with funding from NZ On Air.

An opportunistic tree vandal has taken advantage of last week's foul weather to fell a gum tree growing on public land.

The skies are beginning to clear after last night's storm, but the respite may be short-lived, with thunderstorms and more heavy rain forecast for later today.

Baby Nathan Christensen's arrival coincided with flooding that forced his mum into a helicopter dash.

Thames & Coromandel District Mayor Sandra Goudie discusses the state of the region after wild weather hit overnight. Made with funding from NZ On Air.

Thames & Coromandel District Mayor Sandra Goudie discusses the state of the region after wild weather hit overnight. Made with funding from NZ On Air.

New Zealand is now experiencing the worst of the fire season, a top officer says, with a dangerous combination of high temperatures and low relative humidity creating tinder-dry conditions across eastern hot-spots.

Police believe David Thompson is in Hamilton and is known to have associates across Waikato.

While the eastern region swelters in one of the most rain-deprived Januaries in more than a century, some western areas have been drenched.

A man is in a critical condition after a boating accident in the Coromandel.

Residents near a massive bush fire south of Whitianga have been forced to come to terms with the damage it has done amid fears a change in wind direction could spread the blaze further.

Neighbours of Whitianga residents who lost their homes in this week's bush fires have been rallying around - donating food, clothing and time to support the recovery effort. Made with funding from NZ On Air.

Jani Dennis and Paul Lee came perilously close to losing everything in this week's devastating bush fire which ravaged 70 hectares of land at the tip of the peninsula.

At least six properties were destroyed - but there was no loss of life during the Whitianga bushfire. And locals say they know it could have been much worse. Made with funding from NZ On Air

They described it as explosive, extreme and rampant; and tonight the wildfire that cost residents of an idyllic Whitianga peninsula their homes is burning on.

Four houses have burned down in a large, explosive scrub fire south of Whitianga.

What happens when a town triples in size overnight? Made with funding from NZ On Air.

Workmate applies tourniquet to man's injured hand.

The best spots for enjoying a Christmas hamper outdoors will be in the Bay of Plenty, Nelson and Central Otago tomorrow.

There was a record downpour in Auckland, a tornado in Taranaki and "quake lights" above Wellington. Oh, and 2016 was likely also New Zealand's hottest year on record.

The harbourmaster who was stood down from his job for rescuing an orca trapped in a cray pot this week says he would do it again if he had to.

A petition in support a Whitianga harbourmaster stood down after helping rescue an orca has attracted hundreds of signatures.