The parents of some of the children who accused Ellis of sexual abuse say they are shocked and saddened by the outcome, but Ellis' family is welcoming his exoneration.

A man missing after leaving for a five-day tramp has been rescued after making a help sign out of toilet paper.

An electoral officer says there needs to be easier ways for people to vote as a trial of ballot boxes in some areas draws good results.

The Supreme Court has quashed the convictions of Peter Ellis, the Christchurch crèche worker who was convicted of child sex offences in 1993.

Police say a man who tried to kidnap a woman out jogging in Christchurch early on Monday also attempted to approach another woman that morning.

Police are appealing for the public's help after a phone belonging to a 22-year-old missing for a month was found in Kāpiti Coast.

Officials approve of recent changes at Te Pūkenga but question marks remain over its financial viability and its core missions, according to a report.

Police say two men, both aged 19, have been charged in relation to a smash-and-grab in the suburb of Merivale.

Radio still provides an incredible ability to connect with listeners, the Morning Report presenter says.

The race for the Auckland mayoralty ends this weekend and polls indicate that either Efeso Collins or Wayne Brown will claim the chains.

Transpower says the power emergency it declared in the North Island was due to a fault on one of the two Cook Strait cables which brings electricity up from the South Island.

The government has serious questions to answer after the latest raid on a drug rehabilitation centre, National says.

The family of a slain police officer has had to hear the details of his death re-litigated in court all over again.

The Supreme Court will today deliver the final ruling on one of the country's most high profile legal cases - Christchurch Civic Creche worker Peter Ellis's convictions for child sex offences.

The family who owns Whakaari / White Island today argued in court for charges against them to be dropped. But WorkSafe rejects that.

What's going on with the weather? Temperatures in some parts of the country crashed by up to 20C this week, but are expected to rebound back to warmer temperatures within days.

New Zealand Rugby says it has many initiatives underway to attempt to make the game safer to play and is awaiting the final results of a study of 12,000 former professional rugby players, which it has helped fund.

Former National MP Jami-Lee Ross has been cleared of fraud charges over political donations in part because the judge agreed a sense of betrayal and mental breakdown could have led him to lie.