Stories by Kate Green

Luxon drove the crumbling SH2 with a handful of MPs on Friday morning to reach the small town, gauge progress of its recovery, and learn what it needs from the new government.

From reefs to rugged hillsides, scientists have been mapping the damage caused by Cyclone Gabrielle to help inform future decisions about where to build, and how storms impact the environment.

Jamie Kaiwai was last seen four years ago and her car was found with the keys in the ignition at Tolaga Bay wharf.

The High Court has found a judge "effectively teamed up" with the lawyers of an ex-husband in a post-separation court battle.

New Zealand has signed an international agreement saying agriculture and food production must urgently adapt to respond to climate change.

The company is keeping its retail stores open but closing its Napier factory which has at least 18 staff members.

The Gisborne District Council is looking to the future with a new plan providing guidance on the region's housing and business growth.

The Department of Conservation is appealing for information after an adult variable oystercatcher, or tōrea pango, was shot dead with an air rifle on Pouawa Beach.

An East Coast baker famous for pāua pies has created a new delicacy - bringing her business back from the edge.

Properties in Havelock North which flooded during Cyclone Gabrielle will again be deemed safe to live in, thanks to a $10 million flood protection plan.

A public toilet cistern in New Plymouth has been stolen - and replaced with a golden replica.

The first cruise ship of the season, the National Geographic Orion, arrived in Napier bright and early this morning, met by a cold gusty wind and clear skies. Audio

Police have asked Taranaki schools to warn students about internet safety, after a student faced sextortion.

A Hawke's Bay school community that lost its classrooms in Cyclone Gabrielle has been flooded again - this time out of its temporary home.

A rustle in the grass led an observant nine-year-old to discover a rare colony of Hawke's Bay skinks, which were previously thought to have only survived in one fenced area.

Students set to begin end-of-year exams today say they have never known high school without some kind of disruption to their learning schedule.

Holiday homes and the uninsured will be given equal status to insured family homes under Gisborne's cyclone buyout scheme.

Buyouts for storm-damaged homes in Gisborne can get underway, with councillors voting to accept the government's $204 million offer.

Councillors accused of leaking information about a potential land purchase in central Wellington are refusing to take part in an investigation into their conduct.

The tables are set, the punch bowl is fulland there is a delicious smell coming from the kitchen.

More than 1000 Gisborne properties have been removed from the list of flood risks.

Staff described Dora the kororā as a princess among penguins - charismatic, curious and a little bit cheeky.

The Hastings Cyclone Hub allows people to restock what was lost in Cyclone Gabrielle, but it now faces a hefty power bill and its shop space is on the market. Audio

Public sentiment towards local councils has fallen, with places affected by Cyclone Gabrielle feeling the strain - but for some it's an expected result.