Latest from Gisborne District

Anniversary long weekend stunner on way for northern New Zealand
It's good news if you like sunshine.

Boys' schools ask parents to pay more in voluntary donations
'Boys get the priority', says McAuley High School principal Jan Waelen.

NZ's Best Beach: Ōakura, Taranaki; Wainui, Gisborne; St Clair, Otago
NZ's best beach finalists: Today we profile the Travel team's three "wildcards".

Heatwave to hit Hawke's Bay as temps predicted over 30C four days in a row in Hastings
MetService is predicting the region to remain hot all week.

Lower speed limits on state highways frustrate locals
Significant chunks of NZ's state highway network are no longer 100km/h zones.

Pets on a plane: Airline branches out to transport cats and dogs
Air Napier extended services during lockdown, now demand means it's permanent.

Armed offenders used car stolen in Napier as getaway vehicle
Police are calling for sightings of a silver Mazda Familia after a Gisborne dairy robbery.

Hobson's Pledge flyers opposing Māori wards 'undermining democracy'
Flyers sponsored by lobby group Hobson's Pledge have been distributed around Gisborne.

Last weekend of the Christmas break - how's the weather?
There may still be a chance for one last beach trip this weekend before returning to work.

Wild weather: 7000+ lightning strikes, 8C below average in places
Severe thunderstorm warnings have been issued for parts of the North Island.

Severe thunderstorm warning for Waikato, safety advice issued
The MetService has issued a severe thunderstorm warning and is urging people to stay safe.

School in shock over death of teen who went missing from Rhythm & Vines
Wellington teen Fletcher Wong was a "dynamo both on the futsal court and football field".

New Year Honours: Dame Anne Salmond on why we can be optimists
NY Honours: Enthusiasm for Te Reo is big now. But it was a different story in the '60s.

Appeal for sightings of missing Wellington teen from Rhythm and Vines
Police and search and rescue teams are searching for 19-year-old Fletcher Wong.

'Mask top and bottom': Campaign targets safe sex and Covid
Campaign encourages young people to use condoms and "keep track of where you've tapped".

Farmers still dealing with Hawke's Bay drought nine months on
The drought classification, put in place in March, remains for Hawke's Bay.

Local Focus: Gisborne Māori wards likely depend on just 5 per cent opposition
Māori call for law change and a fairer democracy. Made with funding from NZ On Air.

'Culturally offensive': New law to stop mortuary waste flowing to sea
"Abhorrent" practice to be stopped under landmark new law.

Covid stress, job losses: Man's heart attack on Auckland Harbour Bridge
Researchers warn a rise in unemployment due to Covid could mean more heart attacks.

Tiny school sent staff to Disneyland
The Audit Office names multiple schools for accounting breaches.

Homes evacuated in Porirua as landslide and flooding hits
City north of Wellington holding its breath through heavy rain after flooding yesterday.

Drink-driving mum who killed son given 'lenient' sentence
Drink driving mum who killed son sentenced to 10 months' home detention.

Murder at Mohaka: Crown points to access to firearms
Michael Huata was murdered by his long-time associate Ben Arundel Lambert last year.

Mother, two children's deaths in crash being treated as self-inflicted
The crash claimed the lives of a mother and her two children.

Gisborne councillors vote unanimously for Māori wards
"If not us, then who, and if not now, then when," deputy mayor says in emotional speech.

Economic report: Cities feel Covid pain - which regions are doing best?
Infometrics Quarterly Economic Monitor highlights post-Covid winners and losers.

'Absolute tragedy': Partner and kids aged 14 and 10 killed in crash identified
The crash that claimed three lives will be referred to the coroner.

Museum refuses to exhibit Endeavour model
The large sculpture didn't work either culturally or practically, Tairāwhiti Museum says.

'Unimaginable tragedy': Four family members dead in two crashes
"When word reached us who was involved... it's just even more of a tragedy."