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

The weather is looking calmer at last as New Zealanders head back to work after Easter

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.

Fire crews won't be leaving the scene of a devastating bushfire on the Coromandel until next month.

Authorities continue their investigations to find out the exact cause of a huge fire that destroyed several homes on the Coromandel Peninsula this week.

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.

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.

Proposed new marine protected areas, rules for polluters and changes to commercial fishing methods have been revealed in a long-awaited master plan for the Hauraki Gulf.

The Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter crew were sent out to Colville on Sunday in one of 19 callouts over the long weekend.

Nearly 1000 mourners gather to farewell teen who died last month in Whitianga.

There's a sombre mood on Aquila Drive after the body of 19-year-old Luke Cochrane was discovered yesterday.

The family of Luke Cochrane has issued a statement after a body was found in a search in Whitianga.

Police searching for missing teenager Luke Cochrane in the Coromandel have cordoned off a street after finding a hat believed to be his.

Police divers are still scouring a section of waterway opposite the Whitianga Fire Station for any clues in the search for Luke Cochrane.

Catherine Tamati last heard from her son, Lucas Cochrane, on Saturday morning.

Catherine Tamati last heard from her son, Lucas Cochrane, on Saturday morning.