There were 18 new community cases of Covid-19 today, while former Prime Minister Sir John Key returned to the spotlight to accuse the government of relying on fear tactics.

An Auckland sleep consultant says parents should know by this time next week if their children have adjusted to daylight saving.

Two women who were missing in the Hunua Ranges in east Auckland have been found.

A small scale developer was forced to live out of his car while he awaited the outcome of a subdivision he claims has ruined his life.

Whangārei District Council has formally adopted its new growth strategy with the district's population forecast to grow to 145,000 people by 2051 - a 45 percent increase.

Former Prime Minister Sir John Key believes the government needs to get out its cheque book, rather than rely on fear tactics to get people vaccinated.

Police say there have been high levels of compliance in Tāmaki Makaurau at its first weekend under alert level 3 - with some exceptions.

There have been 18 new community cases of Covid-19 reported in New Zealand today, with all but two epidemiologically linked to previous cases, the Health Ministry says.

A 20-year-old Kawerau man has been arrested and will be appearing at Whakatane District Court on Monday morning, charged with murder and an unrelated assault.

A person has died following a serious single-vehicle collision in Southland's Te Anau Surrounds.

Freshwater monitoring published this morning shows two-thirds of New Zealand river sites are ecologically impaired.

A new survey of New Zealanders shows general support for lockdowns to eliminate Covid-19, but has warning signs about the population's patience for future restrictions and mandatory vaccinations.

Four locations of interest have been added to the Ministry of Health's Covid-19 contact tracing list this morning, all in Auckland.

Two people are dead after a crash in the Christchurch suburb of Hornby last night.

Fisheries New Zealand is being challenged over claims the commercial snapper catch can be increased without posing a risk to endangered Māui dolphins.

A group of doctors have hit the phones to support Pasifika families who have tested positive for Covid-19 and been transferred into managed isolation.

Parts of State Highway 1 near Porirua will be closed from 9pm tonight so that signage for the new Transmission Gully highway can be installed.

Southland is looking forward to an even longer twilight, with daylight saving coming into force overnight.