Weather
Ho ho ho, it's all go for a mostly sunny Christmas weekend
Good news for Santa Claus and backyard barbecue lovers - Aotearoa weather is looking fine for Christmas day, forecasters say.
Thunderstorm watch today, but fine Christmas predicted
It may be starting to feel a lot like summer holidays, but pre-Christmas weather is still looking unpredictably stormy in much of the country today.
New alert system being trailled for hotter than healthy weather
Metservice has launched a a summer heat alert trial to warn more New Zealanders of unusually - and possibly dangerously - hot weather. MetService meteorologist Georgina Griffiths talks to Jesse. Audio
Around the motu : Lee Scanlon in Westport
Westport is still recovering from disastrous floods which hit in July last year, when about half the town's population of 4,000 was evacuated and 500 homes damaged. More torrential rain in February… Audio
Mataura evacuation trigger level lowered due to erosion concerns
A Southland community is being warned to be prepared to evacuate their homes at lower river flows than they might have in the past.
Restricted fire season begins in Coromandel, private fireworks banned also
Fire and Emergency is declaring a restricted fire season for the Coromandel from today.
Thunderstorms and downpours on the way for North Island
Much of the North Island is on a severe thunderstorm watch, while the heaviest rainfall is due in parts of Hawke's Bay, Tararua District and Wairarapa.
Springvale tornado witness describes 'pretty crazy' scenes
A Central Otago community is in clean-up mode after a tornado tore through on Saturday night.
Clean up for Otago homes after tornado rips through
A Central Otago community is in clean up mode after a tornado tore through on Saturday night, causing extensive damage to some properties. The tornado ripped through rural Alexandra and Springvale… Audio
Warning over Queenstown water use as dry spell looms
Residents and visitors to the Queenstown Lakes are encouraged to be wai wise this summer or they could face temporary water restrictions.
Upper North Island to continue sweltering in humidity for days to come
Humidity for the upper North Island is here to stay a little while longer - but there will be some relief during the night.
Flood warnings for South Australian towns as Murray River rises
Residents, business owners and local authorities in South Australia, are bracing themselves for more flooding, as water levels rise along the Murray River.
House roof disappears in Alexandra tornado: 'If you find it, please give back'
A man who had his roof blown off during this yesterday's tornado in central Otago said he has no idea where it landed.
Wild weather: Tornado tears through central Otago, damaging home
A tornado has ripped through central Otago, causing damage to a home and leaving glass shards dented in walls that look like bullets.
'Everywhere is set to see some rainfall' and high humidity lingers
Warm temperatures and high humidity continues to linger over much of the country, with rain and humidity expected to continue over the coming days.
Coromandel Civil Defence details latest storm damage on coast
Holiday makers heading for the Coromandel Peninsula this weekend are being warned to check road conditions, after heavy rains caused multiple road slips. Locals have been posting on social media… Video, Audio
Weather: Heavy rain hammers Coromandel roads yet again
The Coromandel's been hit again with widespread surface flooding, multiple slips and closed roads, just days before the summer holiday-makers descend.
Key arterial routes were knocked out for much of… Audio
Weather closes North Island holiday beaches as schools break for the year
Beaches have been closed in holiday hotspots Whangamatā and Mt Maunganui due to "dangerous conditions" as pre-Christmas bad weather lashes the upper North Island.
Heavy rain pounds Coromandel, causing slips and road closures
Heavy rain has caused widespread flooding, causing multiple slips and closing multiple roads in Coromandel. Audio
Heavy rain causes disruption across Coromandel
Heavy rain has caused disruption across the Coromandel region.
Flooding and slips have closed highways from Whangamata through Hikuai to Whitianga, and some residents are waking up without power.
60… Audio