Weather
Where will the best weather be on New Year's Eve?
The unsettled weather will continue over much of country on Tuesday, with parts of the North and South Island likely to get off to a soggy start.
Rhythm and Vines weather: First rain, now thunder and hail
Forecasters are expecting heavy rain and thunderstorms around Gisborne, where 17,000 people are camping out for the annual festival.
No-swim notice causes stink ahead of Rhythm and Vines
All patrolled beaches in Gisborne have closed as the popular New Year's music festival kicks off in soggy conditions.
Slash debris, swimming bans darken Gisborne beach holidays
Gisborne District Council chief scientist Murry Cave said it was disappointing the waterways have been clogged again.
Rural Auckland left without power following high winds
Some households in rural north Auckland have been without power for more than 24 hours after high winds brought down trees and branches onto power lines.
Heavy rain warning lifted for Wairoa, gale southerlies ease
However, showers are expected to persist until early Sunday morning.
Weather: Wairoa residents urged to avoid non-essential travel
An interisland ferry passenger has been injured and cars have been damaged during a rough Cook Strait crossing this morning.
Weekend weather: Clearer skies on the way
Much of the country can look forward to brighter skies this weekend, with temperatures into the 30s expected for Central Otago for Saturday.
Weather: Heavy rain overloads Gisborne wastewater system
A band of low pressure is bringing stormy weather to the motu, and Interislander ferry passengers are being warned to expect delays.
'It's a nightmare': Man with disability still in motel nearly three months on from floods
A Dunedin man with a learning disability is spending Christmas Day cooped up inside a motel, as the date to move back into his flood-damaged house keeps being pushed back. Video
Total fire ban in Australian state of Victoria
Authorities are urging people to avoid all non-essential travel through areas with an "extreme" level of bushfire risk on Boxing Day.
Hawke's Bay Council calls back staff from leave as heavy rain expected
Hawke's Bay officials are preparing for possible flooding with heavy rain expected for Boxing Day.
Thunderstorm warnings seen around Canterbury
A severe thunderstorm warning was issued for the Selwyn and Ashburton areas until 5pm.
What to do if a wildfire wrecks your holiday
Fire and Emergency is warning holidaymakers to have a plan and be prepared in case of a wildfire when travelling around the country.
Survivors mark 50 years since Cyclone Tracy left Darwin 'in ruins'
In one of the worst natural disasters Australia has ever seen, at least 66 people died and hundreds more were injured when the category four system struck Darwin on 25 December 1974.
Christmas weather: Respite from rain today, before cold front hits tomorrow
It has been a rainy start to Christmas week so far, and holidaymakers planning outdoor activities are advised to make most of the sunny weather today.
Soggy start to Christmas holidays as thunderstorms hit inland Canterbury
Severe thunderstorms have been detected near Cave, the Hunters Hills and Albury in inland Canterbury, with showers and rain forecast for much of the country for the next few days.
Out-of-control bushfire in Australia will burn for days, warn officials
An uncontained bushfire raging in Australia's Victoria state that has prompted an evacuation order for hundreds of residents will burn for several days, officials said on Sunday.
Severe thunderstorm watch for Bay of Plenty, Rotorua, Taupō
Metservice warns thunderstorms and heavy rain could hit on Saturday.
Heavy rain warning as wet Christmas Day looms
The festive season is just around the corner - and there's rain on the way for many parts of New Zealand. Audio
