Orange heavy rain warnings are in place for much of the country, with the heaviest rain expected in Tasman, north-west of Motueka.

Police are now treating the cases as being linked.

Emergency services were called to Little River about 10.40am on Thursday.

Tama Potaka announces role appointments and reappointments.

Heavy rain warnings have been issued for large parts of the country.

The government announced last year it would end greyhound racing.

During questioning, Nic Hill reversed the dynamics of the conflict.

The association is taking legal action against the decision to move the speedway from its home of almost 100 years.

A "disorganised" response to the Kaikōura disaster was also hampered with communication problems, investigators have found.

The Queenstown Lakes District Council has started pumping at least 12,000 cubic metres of treated wastewater into the river per day.

This round of redundancies comes on top of 540 job cuts, which were confirmed in November.

James May is tackling the "biggest subject on the planet" but promises you won't be bored.

Eleven students were injured in the crash.

Police are investigating the sudden death.

Wait times for first specialist appointments and elective treatment have gotten longer - but Health NZ says it is on track to make improvements on the other three government health targets.

The man who died outside a property in the Wellington suburb of Northland has been named as Simon Bird.