East Coast

Residents reportedly heard a loud bang before the electricity went off.

The hearings will take place over a six-week period in Auckland and Hastings.

Up to 100 mm of rain is expected over Gisborne City and Northern Tai Rāwhiti - until about 8am Wednesday.

Over the past month the first cohort of participants have undergone sessions with mushroom extract containing a specific dose of psilocybin at Rangiwaho Marae south of Gisborne.

"Gisborne has suffered from housing underdevelopment and a lack of supply, coupled with damage from severe weather events," Minister Tama Potaka says.

Work to unblock the Mangapapa pipes which were blocked by improperly disposed garden waste has stalled due to heavy rain.

What happens behind the scenes so that 20,000 can party in the sprawling 700,000sqm Waiohika Estate in Gisborne.

Rhythm and Vines organisers urged people to "be sensible and responsible drivers" and cough up $5 for a breath test.

A recent drone assessment of beaches at Tolaga and Tokomaru Bays showed them to be relatively free from new slash.

Record rain hasn't dampened the spirits of thousands of festival goers, and Drug Foundation staff say they're "slammed" by the numbers they're testing.

All patrolled beaches in Gisborne have closed as the popular New Year's music festival kicks off in soggy conditions.

Gisborne District Council chief scientist Murry Cave said it was disappointing the waterways have been clogged again.

Much of the country can look forward to brighter skies this weekend, with temperatures into the 30s expected for Central Otago for Saturday.

The crash on Te Araroa Road, between Hicks Bay and Cape Runaway, was reported to police at 11.15am.

The council is working on a blueprint for the future housing needs of the growing city, which will help guide plans for areas such as Kaiti, Elgin, the city centre, and Awapuni.

A 27-year-old is due to appear in court today over the killing that occurred on 28 October.

The months following the cyclone were a "massive challenge", the taskforce lead says.

Gisborne District Council opposes the Treaty Principles Bill, citing a lack of tangata whenua input.

A new type of technology will connect Tai Rāwhiti communities to civil defence during disasters - even when all other communications are wiped out. Audio

The highway is blocked in Hiruharama and motorists are asked to avoid the area.