The oils of a washed up sperm whale could be used as a remedy for kauri dieback disease on the Coromandel.

The council, DOC, Ngāti Waewae and police are investigating the removal of the taonga but have yet to determine if taking it was illegal.

A man in his 60s was pushed into the road and punched repeatedly in the head and kicked in the body. When a good samaritan went to help, he too was attacked.

Matthew George Mein, 34, believed he and one of the 12-year-old victims he sexually assaulted were "in love". He's now been jailed for three years and 11 months.

Police have taken a 57-year-old woman into custody after the front door of the prime minister's Auckland office was smashed on Thursday morning.

The body of a Kiwi soldier killed in Ukraine, Dominic Abelen, has not been included in an exchange that returned the body of a US serviceman who died alongside him.

Former All Black prop Carl Hayman told police “he wasn't in a good place" when caught behind the wheel more than four times over the legal alcohol limit.

In “one of the worst secrets around”, the former Auckland mayor and Labour MP would be taking up the post.

The Celebrity Eclipse arrived at Lyttelton’s new $67 million berth with 2700 passengers on Thursday, the first large international cruise ship to Christchurch in 11 years.

A cohort of home loan borrowers had their applications tested against rates of 5.8%. Advertised specials have now passed that.

A woman found at the address in Browns Bay has been arrested, and is facing a raft of charges related to possessing firearms and explosives.

“We are extremely relieved and happy to be back with our families,” Topher Richwhite and Bridget Thackwray said.

Andy MacDonald has taken out New Zealand Geographic's top photography prize, marking the third consecutive year a Stuff photographer has won.

St John said 10 people suffered minor to moderate injuries after a fire at The Catlins Area School in Owaka, South Otago.

New mayor, district councillors and community board members sworn into their new roles at the triennium's first meeting.

Police say a 95-year-old has died, nearly two weeks after colliding with a car in Timaru.

The car collided with another vehicle in Mt Eden. Police say they found three of the five people nearby.

A small number of young people motivated by money or social media fame are repeatedly offending and inflicting a large amount of harm, one of Canterbury's top cops says.

Newly named deputy mayor Desley Simpson said an expression of interest in Ports of Auckland was "in a process".

Protesters want the Government to stand by its stance of no new mines on conservation land, but the Government says it is keeping its promise.