Latest from Gisborne

Warm, wet, wild: 2016's extreme weather

There was a record downpour in Auckland, a tornado in Taranaki and "quake lights" above Wellington. Oh, and 2016 was likely also New Zealand's hottest year on record.

Doctor's 'drunk' insults at patient

A patient at Waikato Hospital says he was told he was a "faggot" by a doctor who arrived allegedly drunk in his room in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Power restored to Gisborne and East Coast

Final repairs were made this morning to high voltage lines which were brought down when a light plane crashed, killing the two people on board.

Teacher not sacked for contact with teen

The teacher having an inappropriate relationship with a 13-year-old girl was not fired from the school where he worked over his contact with the girl, an inquest heard.

Teen's cry for help not heard - expert

Reiha McLelland's mother broke down in tears as inquest hears 13-year-old may have wanted parents to know about her plans to harm herself.

Maggot-riddled dog left for dead

Brownie lived a life of abuse and agony. Finally, she was bashed about the head with a claw hammer and the open wounds were left to become maggot-infested, in one of the most severe and disturbing cases the SPCA has seen.

Quake 'predictor' unapologetic

The man who added to the anxiety of Gisborne residents this week after warning of an earthquake insists he has "nothing to apologise for".

Expert: Teen would be alive without teacher's 'love'

Reiha McLelland would be alive today if it were not for her "inappropriate" relationship with her intermediate school teacher, the inquest into her death has been told.

Watch NZH Local Focus: 'Two men got killed'

Now that Gisborne is out of the unexpected chaos and back to the usual Christmas mayhem, locals are reflecting on how it all started. Made with funding from NZ On Air.

Power outage brings Gisborne community together

As the bulk of the Gisborne district remains without power after plane crashed into high voltage lines, the residents of the region are mucking in.

Victim's dad has also been in plane crash

The father of George Anderson, whose body was removed from rural Hangaroa yesterday afternoon, was also a pilot.

Investigators go through plane wreckage

Investigators will begin combing through the wreckage of a plane crash that killed two people and cut power to 20,000 homes in the Gisborne region.

'George wanted to be an exciting pilot'

The pilot who died in a plane crash near Gisborne today, George Anderson, has been described as "an extraordinary, funny, vibrant young man.

Panic after Facebook quake prediction

Long queues have formed at two petrol stations in Gisborne apparently driven by an earthquake predicted posted on Facebook.

Two confirmed dead in light plane crash

Police have reached the site where a light plane has crashed near Gisborne today.

No power in Gisborne area for days

It could be two or more days before the Gisborne area gets power after a light plane crashed into power lines this morning, cutting electricity to the city.

Are councils prepared enough for oil spills?

Fewer than half of councils have enough staff trained to respond to marine oil spills.

Summer is here: 29C expected this week

Summer will be well and truly here this week with temperatures expected to soar to 29C in some parts.