East Coast

Analysis - Hawke's Bay dodged a much worse cellphone and internet blackout in Cyclone Gabrielle when fuel supplies ran critically low, papers show. Audio

Orange heavy rain warnings have been issued for already sodden Northland, Bay of Plenty and parts of the East Coast, and people are being warned to be prepared.

A set of Gisborne city traffic lights will be up and running next week for the first time since Cyclone Gabrielle struck.

A nurse has described winning a hearing against Te Whatu Ora as a small victory as they strike for an hour this afternoon.

The Employment Court has thrown out a bid by Te Whatu Ora to stop a one hour strike at Gisborne Hospital's acute care unit on Wednesday.

Rural Gisborne whānau are sleeping easy at night, knowing they have a permanent home on the land of their tīpuna.

Advocates warn mental health services will not be able to cope with the rising tide of post-cyclone trauma.

Immediate action is needed to address unsustainable forestry practices that have put an iwi's lands and waterways at risk, they say.

New Zealand has had decades of warnings about the effects of deforestation of hillsides, draining of wetlands and building behind stopbanks, a freshwater expert says.

New Zealand needs to prepare for the reality that weather events such as Cyclone Gabrielle and the Auckland Anniversary floods will continue to happen 'more and more', the finance minister says. Audio

The devastated stretch of SH2 between Napier and Wairoa has reopened, and reporter Kate Green drove the highway to get an early glimpse of how it lies now.

Ward 5 nurses say staff shortages have resulted in untenable workloads, burnout and resignations.

The decision comes despite strong opposition at a recent hearing.

Silt is clogging the rivers, birds are in the wrong place, and trout are in the drains. The effects of Cyclone Gabrielle have been devastating to native species.

An East Coast sports club wanting to renew its lease on land it shares with a Māori burial site has sparked frustration from pockets of the community who call it a desecration.

The Cyclone Gabrielle recovery bill in Hastings is estimated to top $2 billion, once farms and orchards in the wider region are taken into account.

The Rangitata has made 13 trips between the two North Island cities in its first month of operation, transporting vital supplies after road closures caused by Cyclone Gabrielle.

Streams and rivers are rising and flooding has been reported in North Taranaki, Civil Defence says. Audio

Labour's Kelvin Davis has brushed off the shock departure of Meka Whaitiri, while her leader has called it an "awakening". Audio