A jury in the Whangarei trial of drug dealer Kyle Skerten has found him guilty of the manslaughter of his 15-month-old stepson, but not guilty of murder.

A 15-month-old boy could have suffered fatal head injuries after using his mattress to bounce out of his cot, a murder trial has been told.

A navy damage control team has boarded a burning ocean-going tug off Northland hours after the crew abandoned ship when fire broke out in the engine room.

A toddler who died after receiving a serious head injury had a skull which looked like "smashed glass", a court has heard.

A mystery woman leapt into the sea to save a boy, 4, who was floating face down and being carried into deeper water on the outgoing tide.

Details of a young girl's ordeal and that of two others were revealed during the sentencing of their attacker, Keith Stewart Luke.

Police are investigating claims parents have organised after-school fights between Northland teenagers to settle playground disputes.

Whale's calls of distress brought mother and brother dangerously close to shore.

Tahi, once an old farm, is now a haven for endangered bird life, says Jim Eagles.

Police have identified the two victims of the worst New Zealand port tragedy in years.

Two crewmen died of suffocation and another was critically hurt in a log ship's hold at Marsden Pt wharf yesterday.