It's a perfect summer's day in Waitangi and Auckland, but messy weather with gales and rain are expected in some parts of the country.

Waitangi Day will be another cracker for most of New Zealand, but Wellington again misses out on any golden weather.

The sun has come out to play and is here to stay, with a scorcher of a long weekend across the country.

Watch NZ Herald Focus: Junior distance runner Quinn Gardiner-Hall is just weeks away from following in the footsteps of his heroes to the icy southern land.

A helicopter was needed to help battle a scrub fire in the Bay of Islands this afternoon. A Fire Service spokeswoman said the blaze

The weather's going to be (finally) glorious for most of the country.

Among the hundreds of waka paddlers taking part in this year's Waitangi Day festivities will be half a dozen who stand out. They'll

Most of the country can expect another warm, dry holiday weekend, but the West Coast is in for a wet one.

Labour leader Andrew Little will attend Waitangi celebrations in both Australia and Waitangi this year.

Movement at centre of failed US lawsuits rejects 'cult' claims.

A romantic first date along a Russell beach has sparked a toxic seafood alert that has seen a ban on collecting shellfish from the entire Bay of Islands.

Alan Langdon, who is accused of taking his 6-year-old daughter to Australia, didn't turn up to court.

Three saved as boat hit rocks and starts taking on water in the Bay of Islands.

A pussy could be on the loose in a Northland nature sanctuary.

A firefighter appeared drunk and others could not demonstrate basic critical skills during an audit, an official report says.

Kiwi yachtsman Alan Langdon is pursuing Federal Court intervention for the return of his daughter, according to a report.

The little girl who had been missing at sea with her father for almost a month is due back in New Zealand in the next few days.

An extradition order is not being sought for a Kiwi yachtsman who sailed to Australia with his young daughter.

COMMENT: There many excellent reasons for the Prime Minister to stay away from Waitangi but being banned from speaking isn't one of them.

Alan Langdon's father believes his son always intended to sail to Australia, not the Bay of Islands as he claims.

Supermodel Rachel Hunter might not have left her heart in Kaeo when she visited the Far North town recently - but she did leave her

A Ngapuhi kaumatua says the Prime Minister should not "run away" from Waitangi Day commemorations.

Alan Langdon was open about his quest to flee Kawhia so that he couldn't be found - but he didn't mention 6-year-old daughter, Que, in his plans.

Friends of a Kerikeri woman found her body floating in the Bay of Islands after she apparently fell from a boat without being noticed.

The search for missing yachtie Alan Langdon and his daughter, Que, has been completed by police.

Police say they can't discount the possibility man and his daughter have fled to Australia.

Bay of Islands the place to be for summer sun today

The holiday road toll stands at 17, rising overnight with the deaths of two pedestrians in Northland.

New Year's Eve has got off to a disastrous start to two people who were injured in a dune buggy crash in Northland this evening.

A spectacular fireworks display off Auckland's Sky Tower and parties around the country herald the start of a new year.