A reported tornado also damaged houses on Auckland's North Shore as heavy rain warnings remain in place for many regions.

Some of those injured in the two-vehicle crash will need to be airlifted ot hospital, police say.

Winston Peters has condemned the brutal response to the protests - which has included the reported killing of thousands of demonstrators.

The sister of Benjamin Timmins says she feared intense pressure on the family was coming to a crisis - "but nothing like this".

More than two dozen staff have shown symptoms consistent with stomach illness.

The mosaic, which lined a wall on Commerce Street, was created in 1997 by Ahipara artist Jen Gay using tiles made by around 500 local schoolchildren.

Awarau's debut play, Luncheon, starring Jennifer Ward-Lealand and directed by Katie Wolfe, won Best Play at the 2014 New Zealand Script Writing Awards.

The man is due to appear in the Youth Court in Christchurch, charged with wounding with reckless disregard for the safety of others.

Police Search and Rescue sergeant Jonny Evans said the decision follows extensive searches of the area.

A climber found the bird stuck in the tank after hearing its calls echo overnight in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park.

Roads have been closed in Hāwera after an extremely heavy burst of rain.

The funds have not lifted participation rates or helped more disadvantaged students, an economist says.

There was a sewage leak last week in Corsair Bay when a septic tank overflowed after bottles were flushed down public toilets.

Benjamin Timmins amounted to more than his criminal history, Rach O'Grady says.

A technical issue with police's investigation management tool may have resulted in sensitive information being made public.

And a family member had been due in court.

Jason Marris's time in the top job coincided with a flurry of headlines about a karakia ban, the abolition of Māori wards, and complaints about last year's election.