A reporter at the scene in Northcote says there is a significant police presence, along with ambulances.

The main road in to the peninsula has reopened and telecommunications have been restored after widespread outages, but the area remains under a state of emergency.

Animal management staff responded to complaints about the dogs four separate times, including the day before Mihiata Te Rore was killed.

A Wanaka-based adventure consultant says she agrees that anyone wanting to climb Mount Everest should have previously summited a 7000 metre high mountain at least once.

The Petone railway underpass on a nearly-new $70 million cycleway is thigh-deep in water more than two days after the storm and heavy rain in Wellington.

Coalition agreements secured getting legislation to select committee and no further, the Justice Minister says.

Anna Breman says economy is recovering but unemployment remains high, wage growth modest.

William Ray, an RNZ employee and Johnsonville resident, said his family were lucky to leave when they did, with the branch now precariously leaning against his house.

The report highlights weaknesses in regulatory practices, processes, and systems including competing priorities, turnover, and IT issues.

Tiaki Wai replaces Wellington Water from 1 July, inheriting council-owned water assets including the Moa Point plant.

Sixty-two-year old Invercargill man Kevin Belling was last seen on his farm almost a month ago.

Two bridges are out of action on the only roads into several rural and coastal communities in southern Wairarapa.

More than 100 locals and tourists are stuck in Wairarapa after bridges were hit, but the road to Banks Peninsula has reopened.

Wellington Water had to revert to the short pipe after the pipe into Cook Strait was overwhelmed - but the short pipe has not been used for 24 hours.

The three dogs are now in care of Animal Management.

Wellington Electricity puts the current outages at over 1000, and expects most properties to have power back on by tonight.

Police said they believe the people in the images may be able to assist with enquiries into a breach of the Mount Maunganui landslide cordon.