Education Ministry figures showed schools this year faced a bigger shortfall of secondary teachers than previously expected.

Two Napier men have been charged in connection with the homicide of Sharlene Smith, whose body was found at a worksite.

A local diver says he will eat shellfish from the south coast after the mayor has tried some kina from the sewage spill hot spot.

A fire inside a rubbish truck this week has prompted renewed warnings about the dangers of discarding batteries in household waste, after firefighters traced the incident to a box of improperly disposed lithium batteries.

A study into thousands of ambulance callouts for mental health shows most were non-urgent, and should have been managed in the community.

The lack of progress in reducing child poverty in New Zealand is both "hugely disappointing" and "unacceptable", the Children's Commissioner says.

Northland Regional Council chairperson Pita Tipene has called on Cabinet Ministers to stop making "derogatory" comments about councils.

The Nurses' Organisation says Christchurch Hospital is reaching capacity, with some elective surgeries cancelled on Wednesday.