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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.