Weather

The wintery blast which brought trees down and caused power outages across Southland and parts of Otago yesterday is heading north and bringing with it snow and heavy rain. Audio

Wind warnings in Otago and Southland have lifted, but residents are still dealing with the aftermath of severe gales.

Temperatures surpassed the previous winter record set just last year and of the 10 warmest winters on record, six have occurred since 2013.

It is expected to be a warm spring overall, but with some cool temperatures this month.

The main road into the suburb of Korokoro near Petone is closed after a slip has come down, blocking both lanes.

Satellite images and graphics reveal the scale of floods that have left millions homeless in Pakistan.

The Nelson and Tasman regions will move out of a state of emergency and into the official recovery phase this afternoon.

More than 450 bed nights have been cancelled on the Abel Tasman Coast Track after heavy rainfall caused damage and forced its closure in parts.

More than 1100 people have died, including 380 children, in the heavy monsoon rains that have devastated large areas of Pakistan.

Mississippi's National Guard was activated after a long-neglected treatment plant broke down, leaving most of the state capital without safe running water, possibly for days.

A warning has gone out for hayfever and asthma sufferers that an intense season of pollen production may be ahead. Audio

A survey of farmers affected by the flooding in Gisborne and Wairoa earlier this year shows just how big the clean-up job is.

As many as 400 people offered to help clean up damage in Nelson from last week's storm.

Near one city, thousands of mud homes have sunk under water; for miles all that's visible is treetops.

A massive clean-up in the top of the south is underway after major flooding, and is being described as likely the "biggest recovery ever faced" in the Marlborough region.