Auckland

Wild weather was last night lashing the upper North Island as heavy rain and high tides combined to keep authorities and residents on high alert for more coastal flooding.

A 124-year-old heritage building in downtown Auckland - being converted into an upmarket brothel - was last night facing demolition amid fears it would collapse after large cracks were found in the walls.

Police have been speaking with people throughout the North Island about a possible Auckland Super City voting scam involving the Papatoetoe ward.

A 63-year-old man was attacked by a police dog which got the wrong man, after he chased an intruder at his property.

A policeman bashed from behind during a brawl in the south Auckland town of Tuakau has regained consciousness and is talking to medical staff.

The tourism industry wants a world-class cruise ship terminal for Auckland that will meet the new super city's needs for the future.

Police are investigating the death of a woman whose semi-naked body was found outside a toilet block in a south Auckland park today.

One of the men accused of shooting 33 dogs in a bloody massacre runs a shop advertising pet care.

A New Zealander stuck among hundreds of tourists in flood-ravaged Machu Picchu has been filling sandbags with the locals while her mates help out in a makeshift medical tent as evacuations continue.

Prime Minister John Key says any increase to GST would have to be compensated for, including by immediate increases to pensions, benefits and Working for Families payments.