A tornado, floods and king tides wreaked havoc across the country yesterday.

Photos from the overnight flooding that forced evacuations in Nelson

People living near rivers and streams in the Tasman District should be prepared for a rapid rise in water levels overnight, with heavier falls forecast to continue, Civil Defence says.

Hamilton police are helping with an investigation into an Australian murder-suicide spree that left two Kiwis dead.

A prominent national figure has been found guilty at the Nelson District Court today of indecently assaulting a teenage girl.

After more than 10 hours of deliberation the jury in the trial of a former national figure accused of sexually assaulting a teenage girl has still not been able to reach verdicts.

More than 1000 infringements were recorded by police during a blitz on drink driving over Easter at the top of the South Island.

An injured 30-year-old tramper has been flown to Nelson hospital after her husband tramped out of the Kahurangi National Park to get help.