The soaring cost of living in the Far North has people sleeping in cars, begging for food, and seeking support in "astronomical" numbers. Sophie Smith-Cressy says people are desperate.

Experts say antibody testing is being underutilised as a tool to help Long Covid sufferers who never tested positive on a rapid antigen test (RAT).

Birds have fled, humans want to leave and even the midges have gone - Christchurch's damaged waste water plant is driving everyone away with its "horrendous" stench.

The Veterinary Council says there's a resurgence of canine cough in the country.

Connie the green turtle should finally be cruising free at sea after being released following a second stint in turtle rehab.

Patients and staff could start moving out of Hutt Hospital's quake-prone main block within weeks, according to Minister of Health Andrew Little.

The New Zealand Defence Force is facing a battle of a different kind - trying to attract and keep people in the services of the Army, Air Force and the Navy.

There have been 9570 new community cases of Covid-19 and another 32 deaths with the virus reported today, bringing total deaths in Aotearoa to 1017, the Ministry of Health says.

A man has been charged over an alleged hit-and-run death of a man in Otago.

Two people in Southland have been arrested after fleeing police, driving along a footpath and crashing into a patrol car.

A shotgun blast has left glass strewn through a child's bedroom in what police say is the latest example of gang-related violence in the Tairāwhiti region.

A man charged with murder will appear in a Northland court next month after the discovery of a body, believed to be that of missing woman Gaelene Bright.

A mental health service is concerned those who experience the worst inequality will not benefit from more government funding.

The Westland District Mayor, Bruce Smith, has been airlifted to Christchurch hospital due to illness.

An upgrade to Hastings city centre has left some businesses at the other end of the shopping area feeling hard done by.

Rimutaka Prison near Upper Hutt has lifted a lockdown it entered this morning after two phone threats saying a bomb was placed at the site.

Police have confirmed the person arrested after an attack at Tawa College yesterday was 15 years old.

A pay equity settlement that will mean some health administration staff getting a $20,000 raise will be "life changing" for the mainly women workers, a union delegates says.