Extra police were called in to break up a fight involving up to 40 students from Onehunga College in South Auckland late this afternoon.

Staff at a west Auckland bank were threatened with serious violence by an armed gang during a robbery yesterday afternoon.

The presence of an extra police officer at the search of Jan Molenaar's home may have meant the death of Senior Constable Len Snee was avoided, coroner David Crerar said today.

A storm bringing hail, thunder and lightning has hit the bottom of the North Island after passing over the South Island.

A 20-month-old Nelson boy has drowned in Queens Gardens in the central city.

The savage bashing and stomping of a 16-year-old girl in the streets of Christchurch was recorded on a cellphone so that the video could be put on the internet, Christchurch District Court was told today.

Police braved cold, rainy weather conditions to continue the search for missing Christchurch woman Emma Campbell today.

An apparent arson and an aggravated robbery in the Wairarapa within two hours of each other appear to be unrelated, police say.

Two GPs are warning that doctors need to be prepared for a wave of new ailments this century caused by climate change, including more accidents, gastroenteritis, skin cancer, depression and dengue fever.

Golden Bay soldier Private Allister Baker, who was injured in an attack in Afghanistan, is well on the road to recovery and will be returning to Golden Bay to get married in December.