In 2015, pharmacy owner Shope Olawoyin began thinking about leaving Nigeria.

'It pays to be really ready.'

The hotel's licensee was left with only the clothes on his back and his little kitten.

Officers were active on Guyton St and Wicksteed St about 10.30am on Thursday.

The fire, measuring 300m by 200m, is burning grass, scrub, and pine trees.

A daycare centre next to Whanganui Hospital was evacuated.

'There was a lot of anxiety and stress waiting for that confirmation.'

Victor Boyd was recognised at the Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards.

Ashley Steedman has 'fallen in love with the job'.

'Upon arrival they found one person trapped in a vehicle.'

Defendant calls out: “you’ve got the wrong hit man”.

'They are really proud and stoked.'

About 200 litres of diesel spilled on State Highway 1 at Sanson.

'This sort of violence against our staff is unacceptable.'

'It pays to get checked, and early intervention is best.'

Police said the road was closed until about 9pm.

Police advise residents being targeted to 'close the door and not engage with the person'.

Police said the car fire occurred 'northwest of the airport'.

'Pam gives so much to the community so we wanted to give back to her.'

No injuries to humans or cattle were reported.

The crash happened late on Sunday night at the intersection of SH3 and Hewitts Rd. 

'I think victims and survivors are reporting more these days.'

The fire was caused by an air ventilation fan.

A person with moderate injuries was taken to Whanganui Hospital.

Multiple charges have been laid against a 48-year-old man and 67-year-old man.

'Without those people, the outcome could have been completely different.'

'One person was trapped in the vehicle.'

A person received moderate injuries in a crash on SH1 at Taihape.

Firefighters were called to a property in Bulls early on Monday morning.

'Our aim is to prevent tragic incidents on our roads.'

Easter visitors are warned not to be complacent about the Tongariro Crossing.

“It was very quiet ... a lot of people were crying."

About 10 firefighters responded to the two fires in Westmere.

'The people you’re operating on tend to be your neighbours, friends.'

“I get most stressed when the cows aren’t performing well."

The prisoner lit a mattress in his cell on fire.

'It doesn’t happen often.'

The Whanganui teacher was sentenced to home detention last year.

The defence argued he was overwhelmed by farm work, not motivated by profit.

'I don’t even know the guy but that boat’s got to be finished.'

It's a long road ahead for farmers in the worst-affected areas.

The cause of the fire in a former fish and chip shop is yet to be determined.

Four people were taken to hospital, one with serious injuries.

'A person had fled after making threats.'

Firefighters contained the blaze, preventing it from spreading to nearby properties.

'A lot of people are struggling for water to feed their stock.'

"It is not safe to make repairs until the wind subsides."

'The two people that were injured and went to hospital were not our employees.'

Whanganui has only had "a handful of incidents” for police to deal with.

Four people were taken to hospital, with one female seriously injured.

One person was seriously injured and had to be cut from a vehicle in a ditch.

'He made the decision to make an emergency landing.'

Two people, one in a serious condition, have been taken to Whanganui Hospital.

Karaitiana Horne won three major motocross titles in 2024.

The pilot activated a personal locator beacon about 12.50pm.

'If they don’t get that help, they’ll be stuck all through school.'

The Parapara at Kakatahi is reported to be blocked after a two-vehicle crash.

'A drought’s quite insidious. It sneaks up on you slowly.'

'High levels of motivation are tied to a deeper sense of wellbeing.'

A car crashed 20-30m down a bank on Kauarapaoa Rd early on Thursday morning.

'It doesn't send a good message to tourists.'

'The safety and wellbeing of our patients who require hospital care remains our priority.'

Three fire trucks and a water tanker are on site at Mangamahu near Whanganui.

'We now have a whole generation of young people who are addicted to nicotine.'

'The roof isn’t designed or made to hold human weight.'

A big firefighting response was needed after a leak at Whanganui Hospital.

Fire trucks have been sent to Whanganui Hospital to deal with a chemical spill.

'A lot of our young Māori māmā often don’t end up having any pre-birth support.'

There were plenty of uplifting performances from older athletes throughout the games.

'Being a smaller city, I just want to reiterate the harm that meth causes.'

“People even tell me that I shouldn’t be doing it at my age - which is nonsense.”

"It’s very much a part of the Pātea culture."

A courier driver noticed tarseal wrapped around his truck's wheels.

Firefighters stopped the Whanganui fire from spreading to a nearby house.

Aimee Carruthers, 41, relies on a 7kg oxygen tank due to a rare lung condition.

The driver was later found uninjured.

'I’m a little bit nervous because of my knee joint replacement 11 weeks ago.'

'It also strengthens connectedness to the community and to Whanganui as a whole.'