Two young men suspected of drowning at a popular surf beach north of Gisborne yesterday were brothers.

Rhythm and Vines music festival organisers say they expect changes for the better after this summer's mayhem at BW campgrounds on New Year's Eve.

The son of an elderly couple who died in a house fire on Friday morning has paid tribute to his parents.

An elderly couple house-sitting a recently renovated property for their son were killed early yesterday when it went up in flames at Tolaga Bay, 50km north of Gisborne.

Seventy years ago today, a German submarine went on an unsuccessful search for ships to sink in New Zealand waters.

Eighteen of the young men arrested in Gisborne after mayhem at the beachside BW campground on New Year's Eve will face court action.

A 20 year-old man is dead after he tried jumping from a light pole into a swimming pool last night.

Economists have written them off and their educated young are leaving. Still they refuse to die quietly. Some are reinventing themselves in a bid to breathe life into our zombie towns.

A 18-year-old male called for help early this morning after suffering from a minor injury while tramping near Gisborne.

Gisborne was never officially named Gisborne, the New Zealand Geographic Board has revealed.

A 54-year-old man who suffered critical head injuries in an alleged baseball bat assault in Gisborne last month is reported to be making progress in his recovery.

Police are trying to trace the movements of a car believed to be linked to a serious baseball bat assault that put three Gisborne people in hospital with serious injuries.

Forestry company HarvestPro has been ordered to pay $120,000 in fines and reparation after one of its workers was hit by a log weighing more than a tonne.

More than 100 insurance claims have already been lodged with AA Insurance today for damages to roofs, windows and fences from the overnight storm.

The search for missing Gisborne man Duncan Munro ended tragically yesterday for his family when his body was found in a remote area on the Mahia Peninsula.

Police have resumed their search for a missing Gisborne surfer, after his car was found near a remote beach.

A magnitude 4.4 earthquake struck 35km south-east of Gisborne at 6.18am, GeoNet reported.

A South Korean man has drowned after diving into a popular river rockslide pool to save two children.

A Gisborne robber who swung a knife at an Indian restaurant employee and stole $6000 later told police he was prepared to use the knife.

The NZ Institute of Chartered Accountants brought disciplinary proceedings against a jailed and bankrupt finance company director - who is no longer a member.