Nalini Roy was on the phone to her partner when he arrived home and was allegedly murdered by her estranged husband.

Dr Ashley Bloomfield is getting advice on whether a fourth Covid-19 vaccine dose should be rolled out to vulnerable, older Kiwis, and health workers.

The city council is working with experts to fine-tune plans and review the costs of fluoridation.

The victim remains in Wellington Hospital in serious condition following the incident in Upper Hutt last weekend.

Rick Williams woke to news of a boat sinking in the Far North and hoped friends on a fishing trip weren't onboard. Soon, his worst fears were realised.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand asked people in houses and buildings close to the Alliance meat plant at Lorneville to close their windows and doors and stay inside after an ammonia leak.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand received more than 400 weather related call-outs on Monday.

The 34-year-old, who faces four charges of reckless driving causing injury, is understood to have had her daughter in the car during the incident.

The woman, who admitted inciting her partner to commit suicide, says she was fearful over leaving him due to his threats to self-harm.

Lightning strikes, thunder and up to 13.8mm of rain falls in an hour as Wellington became the latest to receive a pummelling, with heavy rain and thunderstorms sweeping through the North Island.

Director-General of Health Dr Ashely Bloomfield has warned there would likely be new Covid variants of concern, with unknown severity, in the future.

The former ADHB employee is alleged to have received payments in relation to the procurement and supply of medical equipment.

The house has been substantially damaged while crews continue to battle the fire almost two hours after they were alerted to it.

A subtropical low over the northeast of the North Island is forecast to escalate on Wednesday, with the potential to be an extreme event.

The video shows a man crouching on the street side of the fence, before standing up and throwing a small flaming object over the top into the embassy grounds.

Rising costs and an appetite for new spending could force the council to use debt to help balance the city's books.

Midwives say Christchurch Women's Hospital would not cope if St George's maternity unit closed - an option being considered in a proposal for change.

A driver was cut from their vehicle after a crash outside Oakura on Tuesday afternoon.

A fifth body has been found, two days after the Enchanter fishing charter capsized off North Cape.

The Invercargill City Council is about to consult on a 7.78 per cent rate rise, but its deputy mayor doesn't believe the extra revenue needed should all be handed onto the ratepayers.