Two people were seriously injured and an estimated 50 homes damaged in Northland after a tornado knocked trees down and cut power to thousands overnight.

Across the country there have been four fatal road accidents this weekend, and two deaths from accidents earlier in the week.

All Craig and Catherine Welsh want is the return of family heirlooms, including several war medals, taken during the burglary of their Canterbury home.

A string of politicians have cast doubts on the future of the contentious Treaty Principles Bill, during speeches at Rātana.

New Zealand needs to get past the "squeamishness about privatisation", David Seymour has argued in his first major speech of the year.

The Police Association says it's aware an internal investigation is under way, after police staff were found to be searching the main database for details about Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming's death.