Waikato

In the 12 months after the changes, 1461 parking tickets were handed out with a combined value of $90,470.

Pirongia's water was being supplied from a bore-fed reservoir with limited capacity.

National water reforms mean the city has to move away from residents paying for water through their rates based on capital value - to either a set charge or a user pays model.

Colin Payne's Ōtorohanga home was inundated by floodwaters at the weekend, but a saved pet goat and heirloom teddy bear is keeping his spirits up. Audio

Ryan Vickers says he had never seen damage like the scenes on his parent's Waipā farm following Friday's intense rain.

A local state of emergency has been declared after the district was lashed by heavy rains overnight.

The car was submerged on State Highway 39.

Local Colin Payne said waters close to three metres high had come through his property overnight.

Ival Brownlee claimed he hadn't used since 2012 - but hair tests proved otherwise.

The demolition of the classroom block that went up in flames is expected to take some time.

Waste Management New Zealand is investigating whether a lithium battery is to blame for a landfill blaze that lasted several hours.

The fire broke out at the Tirohia Landfill near Paeroa on Wednesday.

A ladder-truck broke down as it set up the hose to fight the fire at Taupō-nui-a-Tia College, with another having to be sent from Hamilton.

Lake Taupō's harbourmaster has issued a warning to a teenager in charge of a boat that caught fire just before Christmas.

The fire at Taupō-nui-a-Tia College destroyed a block of classrooms, police say.

Satwinder Singh was jailed for seven years and two months December last year.

Veteran George Bennett pulls out gutsy solo attack to win the men's national road cycling championship near Cambridge.

Hone Neal, 40, suffered non-life-threatening injuries when he was shot on Wednesday.

Cambridge Road near Racecourse Road heading towards State Highway 1 was closed.