No matter where you were in NZ last night, you would have experienced thunderstorms.

Long-range forecast is for stormy, windy weather across most of the country.

Almost every single part of the country is experiencing warmer than average temperatures.

Dairy farming accounts for about 11.7 per cent of the West Coast economy.

Dress in layers as the afternoon high is expected to reach the upper teens.

Dinghy Pattinson has broken down how the re-entry will play out.

No one has been back into the mine since November 2010 since the explosion.

Kirsty Bennett has published a book for children about the star Puanga.

The searches have been temporarily suspended today due to conditions on the river.

Two men were washed downstream on the Taramakau River after a jet boat crash on Friday.

"We have to bring you home to your family and friends."

"You couldn't see more than six inches underwater."

Mitch Gameren's father said family members were still seeking answers.

A man is missing after a horror jet boat crash on the West Coast.

The families want to try and recover the 29 dead miners

Re-entry to the mine was delayed yesterday due to safety concerns.

Families and politicians will meet at the mine today, despite postponement.

COMMENT: Human beings should never have seen the inside of that mine.

Andrew Little says 'safety must come first'.

Temperatures are forecast to soar 6C above average in some parts of the country.

The future of the festival is up in the air.

Weatherwatch says waves of up to 8m high that hit Tasmania earlier are on their way to NZ.

Pike families had felt let down by the previous Govt which said re-entry was too dangerous

There will be at least one wet day for most places, although some may have two.