A honeymooning pair claim to have run into not one, but six natural disasters as they followed their itinerary around the globe.

The Christchurch earthquake has generated new cooperation between Australian and New Zealand tourism authorities, with New Zealand offered a free platform to pitch for business at Australia’s major annual tourism trade show.

People in northern and eastern areas of the North Island are being advised to take precautions as heavy rains threaten to sweep across those regions tonight and tomorrow, with a possibility of flooding in coastal and low-lying areas.

In a rare moment of unity, Australia's political leaders joined to mourn the victims of a catastrophic summer.

A person was caught on camera allegedly stealing shoes from a flood-damaged Onehunga home. Video / Supplied

Former tropical cyclone Wilma is now well clear of the North Island, heading quickly out into the Pacific Ocean but leaving a big clean up operation for the island and high winds forecast for the rest of NZ.

Temporary welfare shelters have been set up in Northland to house about 70 people, after tropical cyclone Wilma battered the upper North Island overnight. People from Kaeo through to Kawakawa have evacuated from their homes due to rising