The winter chill is still around and property inspectors are urging landlords to ensure their rentals are warm and dry.

Visitors have returned to Ruapehu after a tough few ski seasons, but a lack of snow has forced them to change plans, and led to a rocky start for local businesses.

Rising floodwaters have forced homeowners and holiday-makers to evacuate in Otago and Canterbury, where rivers have burst their banks and torrential rain has washed out roads.

"You didn't steal from us you stole from hungry families" is the message from a Southland Charity fleeced of donations destined for struggling whānau.

A new survey has revealed almost half of city and district councillors have experienced racism, gender discrimination or other forms of harassment.

Some of the country's iconic Great Walks may be rerouted or huts moved as DOC prepares for more extreme weather due to climate change.

A Lincoln University student has died in their halls of residence in Canterbury.

There are 1676 homes are without power in Titahi Bay and Paremata near Wellington this evening.

The Northland hospital's move was part of infection prevention controls, while more than 30 aged care facilities in the lower South Island struggle with infections.

Deaths within 28 days of a Covid-19 infection will still be publicly recorded, but the Ministry of Health will separate out the total where death was as a result, or contributed to, by the virus.

A body has been found in the water at Deborah Bay, north of Port Chalmers, Dunedin.

A police union president says courts need to send a clear message to anyone who attacks officers.

The current mayor of Hastings has put her hat in the ring for another three years in the job.

Two Covid-19 cases in Auckland have the Omicron BA.2.75 subvariant - the first time the subvariant has been detected in the community, the Ministry of Health says.

Conservation efforts are paying off with the population reaching its highest level since records began in the 1970s.

The hunt is on for man who carried out an aggravated robbery of a bank in Auckland's North Shore.

Floodwaters have washed away a bridge cutting off access to Lake Ōhau near Twizel, trapping homeowners and holidaymakers.

Inflation has hit a 32-year high - How did we get here, what impact will it have and how long can we weather the storm?