Weather
El Niño officially declared by NIWA
NIWA says the weather pattern - which usually causes dryness in the east and more rain in the west - is likely to continue over summer.
Strong winds set to pick up in South Island before hitting Northland and Auckland
A strong wind watch is in place for the South Island's main divide, with winds set to pick up in Northland and Auckland from Saturday.
Apprentice builder repairing flood damage: 'I enjoy seeing the homeowners happy'
Apprentice builders in Wairoa are earning their qualifications by repairing flood-damaged homes.
'Not good news' - Sewer blockage the worst Watercare boss has seen in 35 years
It could take a week-and-a-half to fix a blocked sewer main at the bottom of a huge sinkhole, Watercare warns.
Hold onto your hats, westerlies set to stay with El Niño
It's been a windy start to spring, but if you're sick of the westerlies you're out of luck. Not only are they expected to make a return over much of the North Island this weekend - they're also likely… Audio
Support denied for owners of storm-damaged homes in trusts
People with homes damaged by the summer storms face yet another obstacle as they learn their trust-owned properties disqualify them from accessing support. Audio
Yellow stickers going missing from cyclone-damaged homes
Yellow stickers attached to the front of unoccupied cyclone-damaged homes in Te Tai Rāwhiti have been mysteriously disappearing.
Some flood-displaced people miss out on assistance packages
Yet another roadblock for people displaced by this year's summer storms. Earlier this month, the government established an assistance package for people unable to get back into their homes after the… Audio
Galeforce winds blast Wellington
Windy Wellington is certainly living up to its name, with gale force winds overnight.
Gusts of a hundred and ten kilometres an hour were recorded at Mount Kaukau.
The top of the South Island also… Audio
Big swell forces Interislander to cancel sailings
Ocean swells of four to five metres have forced several Interislander ferry trips to be cancelled on Wednesday.
Aratere sailings are expected to return from 3.45pm Wednesday afternoon and Kaitiaki… Audio
Flood warning for Waipaoa river near Gisborne; ferries affected
Gisborne has issued a flood warning for the Waipaoa River near the settlement of Te Karaka.
Weather updates: Convoys make it through vital, storm-damaged route
Two return convoys have managed to get through Haast Pass today as Waka Kotahi opened a single lane on the vital storm damaged route along State Highway 6.
North Island in for a drenching
Once again the regions of Bay of Plenty and Tairawhiti have been hammered by heavy rain. While the rain was expected to ease tonight, other parts of the North Island are now in for a drenching, while… Audio
Severe weather: Ferry cancellations, but highway set to partially reopen
Waka Kotahi is hoping a South Island flood-damaged highway will be able to partly reopen, while Cook Strait ferries have been cancelled and heavy rain warnings are out for Bay of Plenty and Gisborne /… Audio
'We're expecting the worst of the rain to come through today'
Heavy rain warnings are in place for the Gisborne and Eastern Bay of Plenty region with the worst of the downpour expected this morning. Audio
Heavy rain battering eastern Bay of Plenty
Heavy rainfall is continuing to hammer the Bay of Plenty region Monday morning.
MetService says Ōpōtiki had 59 millimetres of rain since midnight, with the rest of the region seeing between 30 and… Audio
Slash damages historical graves in Queenstown
A Queenstown resident says it's disgraceful slash dumped from a gondola redevelopment has damaged historical graves.
Torrential rain caused logs and mud to crash through a third of Queenstown… Audio
Heavy rain warnings in place for Gisborne/Eastern Bay of Plenty
Heavy rain warnings are in place for the Gisborne and Eastern Bay of Plenty regions where Civil Defence is monitoring conditions.
On Sunday night, following a day of rain, the Whakatāne, Tauranga… Audio
Heavy rain hits north-east of the country
Heavy rain is pummelling the north-east of Aotearoa.
Two orange heavy rain warnings are in place as a month's worth of rain has been forecast to hit the Bay of Plenty region.
A dedicated flood… Audio
Heavy rain on the way for Gisborne, eastern Bay of Plenty
Flood-weary Gisborne and the Eastern Bay of Plenty are next in line for heavy rain - after the lower South Island was battered last week.
