Bill Hickman

The news comes just over five weeks out from when a massive backflow of sewage flooded the plant.

The former Chatham council CEO edited quotes and contracts in a $250,000 project to upgrade his own accommodation, in what an inquiry says was "exceptionally poor judgement".

An open letter decrying the introduction of powers to enable police to relocate people from certain areas has been sent to the Prime Minister.

Last month, a fault at the wastewater plant caused it to shut down, sending up to 70 million litres of untreated sewage into the sea each day.

MetService was forecasting three-metre swells and winds of up to 74 km/h in the Strait.

Lyall Bay Surf Lifesaving club says information on offshore conditions remains unavailable, despite the partial lifting of a rahui on Wellington's South Coast.

The council lifted the ban on swimming in the area, excluding Tarakena Bay.

Its veranda hangs over a Wellington footpath, supported by bulging pillars. When storms hit, metal flies off. The complaints go back decades.

The Wellington Mountain Bike festival kicks off this Friday with three days of racing, shuttle runs, food, beer and entertainment in three different trail spots around the city.

One climber rescued by helicopter is in a critical condition and two are seriously injured.

People across the lower North Island are getting increasingly frustrated with power providers and the lines company.

A Lower Hutt man said time appeared to go into slow motion when a 10 by 30 square metre expanse of his back yard slid away on Monday.

Businesses on Wellington's South Coast are doing it tough since the failure of the Moa Point wastewater plant. Audio

"I screamed out to my kids 'get your arses up here now!' and I watched the whole thing just slide down."

Winds in Wellington have topped 190km/h in high parts and about 130km/h in the city.

The airline says staff are working "around the clock" to minimise disruption as its cabin crews strike on Thursday and Friday.

Staff are now able to enter the failed treatment plant, but the agency isn't providing details of the work being done or who is involved.

A witness took to social media to the describe seeing the man on a bicycle being pursued by police on the eastern side of the Hutt River.

OpenStar Technologies has secured a $35 million commitment from the Regional Infrastructure Fund to further their research towards creating a clean fusion power source capable of being scaled up to…

But residents were warned to prepare for a "long slog" after the initial response died down and the community was left to ready themselves for the next bout of heavy rain. Audio

Rice Bowl Burger Bar has been serving up hot food since the early 1970s.

The works include flood protection and river restoration work, improvements to public transport links and walking and cycling routes as well as upgrading the Melling interchange.

Their union says problems with Air New Zealand's planes and services are creating extra headaches for staff at 38,000 feet.

Extreme storms bear out decades of warnings but it's not too late for people to reduce emissions and slow the effects of climate change, a scientist says.

Heavy rainfall has caused flooding and slips, cutting off Whangārei communities.