Hawke's Bay

A significant jump in the recreational use of nitrous oxide has sparked concern, with claims big canisters of the gas are being marketed directly to children. Audio

A homicide investigation has been launched after the discovery of a woman's body at a worksite in Hawke's Bay last week.

A Novus Glass Waipukurau employee said he had never seen so much carnage from one stretch of NZTA-funded roadworks - a section near SH2 north of Waipawa.

It took five hours after initial reports before police and the Coastguard recovered the body from the water.

Andy Winitana, 46, died in hospital after sustaining injuries during an assault outside a Napier nightclub.

Police said it was unclear how the person came to be there, and how they died, and were treating the death as unexplained.

The eels, including breeding stock thought to be 40 to 50 years old, were found dead in the Waiatāi Stream near Wairoa last month.

Police found nothing of concern after a report of a person with a gun.

This summer's crop of rule breakers on the water are flouting rules meant to prevent fatalities, a harbourmaster says, including speeding and taking children on boats without lifejackets.

Detective Sergeant Ryan Kemsley said police were called at around 1am to West Quay in Ahuriri where the man was located unresponsive on the ground.

The Hawke's Bay town of Wairoa has been without a full-time dentist for the last five years. Audio

Steve Gibson said there were several reasons for his discomfort.

A "malicious third-party" attack launched a virus on the firm's IT network, which was not protected by its cyber security software.

The red-eared slider turtles were taken after a large square hole was cut in the fence of the Cornwall Park aviary at the beginning of January.

The boy's doctor said that months after leaving the property, his body was still working hard to eliminate lead, arsenic and cadmium from his system.

A woman has been arrested and a homicide investigation launched after the death of a man in Napier.

Hundreds of tuna, including breeding stock thought to be 40 to 50 years old, have been found dead in the Waiatai Stream.

Worksafe and police are jointly investigating the circumstances of the road worker's death, a spokesperson confirmed.

Police are responding to a two-vehicle crash on the Taihape-Napier Road, near Comet Road.

The service was closed on Sunday as well as New Year's Day to January 4 due to staffing issues.