Wild winds have sent a bouncy castle in the air in Tauranga. Video / Supplied / Gabrielle Stimpson

The father of convicted murderer Scott Watson believes his son is innocent.

Dec 31, 2021: Today's update comes as Auckland prepares for large New Year's Eve crowds to be allowed to gather for the first time since August. Video / NZ Herald

Car smashes into an apartment building. Video / Supplied

The man who led NZ's Covid-19 response in a pandemic has now been knighted to become Sir Ashley Bloomfield. Video / Marty Melville

Three-time Rugby World Cup winning Black Ferns captain Dame Farah Palmer has been made a companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for 2023. Video / NZ Herald / Photosport

A 24-year-old man will be charged with murder in connection to a body found in a car. Video / NZ Herald

The ISS captures a glorious and virtually cloud-free view of Te Waipounamu/South Island from the west coast. Video / ISS Above

Large industrial building fire in Waterloo Road, Christchurch. Video / NZ Herald / Supplied

Brad Edwards' close bond formed in firefighting became a catalyst for community fundraising. He will once again be taking on the Sky Tower challenge in Auckland in May. Video/Warren Buckland

Dozens of motorbikes rode alongside Mongrel Mob member Daniel Eliu’s hearse. Video / Supplied

An unusually large herd of about 50 Bronze Whaler sharks was spotted off Cape Kidnappers. Video / Mike Terry

The medium size boat was fully engulfed on Lake Taupō. Video / Supplied

The highly-anticipated Pūhoi to Warkworth highway north of Auckland has not been completed in time for summer, but Wellingtonians will be elated with the pre-Christmas opening of the Peka Peka to Ōtaki expressway. Video / Waka Kotahi

A motorist captured the results of the deluge of heavy rain on Auckland's Southern Motorway near Penrose. Video / Charles West

A person has died following an incident on the South Western Motorway about 3.20am. Photo / NZ Herald

120kg of ham, 60kg of potato salad and 120 litres of jelly are just some of the numbers bringing joy to hundreds of people in need as the Auckland City Mission hosts its annual Christmas lunch. Video / Brett Phibbs

Scenes from 'Love Actually' are playing out at airports across Aotearoa as families reunite after years of Covid disruptions. Video / NZ Herald

MetService National weather: December 22nd - 25th.

MetService Christchurch weather: December 23rd.

MetService Wellington weather: December 23rd.

MetService Auckland weather: December 23rd.

Clinical immunologist Dr Anthony Jordan gives advice on how to stay Covid safe this summer, while also enjoying the holidays after a 'rough three years'. Video / NZ Herald

Shark expert Dr Riley Elliott explains how to stay safe around sharks at holiday hotspots plus reveals his new app that lets you track sharks in real-time this summer. Video / NZ Herald

Black smoke billows from Bowden Road, Mount Wellington, after two fibreglass tanks, caught on fire. Video / Kenneth Marc Cockerell

Large plumes of smoke spotted across the harbour from Papakura after a metal shredding machine catches fire and scrap metal processing plant. Video / Claire Sciascia

MetService National weather: December 21st - 24th.

MetService Christchurch weather: December 22nd.

MetService Wellington weather: December 22nd.