A drunk off-duty police detective exposed his genitals to a woman and her son, a court has heard.

An ex-pharmacist told court he'd been asked by police to keep selling cold medicine to "pill shoppers" to help their surveillance operation.

Stefan Jensen, who suffers from mild dementia, disappeared on June 4 from his son's rural property in Pukekawa, 24km southeast of Pukekohe.

A tearful teenage girl who deliberately lit a fire which killed Pukekohe mum Lynette Chapman today changed her plea on a murder charge to guilty.

A high school student has undergone surgery after suffering severe burns from a technology class assignment gone wrong this morning.

A 17-year-old girl has pleaded guilty to murdering Pukekohe mother of three Lynette Chapman, who died in a fire in her home in January.

A man will appear in court after stealing a car at knifepoint.

Residents living south of Auckland are being warned to brace themselves for a stormy night.

A man who tore the head off a kitten in front of his family has been sentenced to two years and four months in prison.

Franklin residents will be split between the new Auckland Supercity, Waikato and Hauraki district councils.

Auckland Mayor John Banks calls the city's new local government structure "an inspired piece of work".