Natural Disasters
Afghanistan hit by third earthquake in a week
The 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck the Herat province which has been hit by a series of recent tremors.
Iwi and Taranaki Regional Council seek help from nature for flooding
Ngaa Rauru is joining up with Taranaki Regional Council to search for "nature-based solutions" to flooding of the Waitōtara River catchment in the face of climate change.
Afghanistan hit by second earthquake in days
Another earthquake has hit western Afghanistan just days after two large quakes in the same region killed more than 1000 people.
Volunteers still travelling to Hawkes Bay for flood clean-up 8 months on
Volunteers are still travelling to Hawke's Bay from around the North Island to help with the cleanup, eight months on from Cyclone Gabrielle. Temporary housing requirements mean paid accommodation is… Audio
More than 1000 dead as Afghans dig for quake survivors
Rescuers are digging for survivors of a powerful earthquake that flattened whole villages in Afghanistan, killing more than 1,000 people.
Afghanistan earthquake: At least 120 killed and 1000 injured in 6.3 quake
Survivors described their terror as office buildings first shook - and then collapsed around them.
Watercare installs pipe to redirect wastewater from Parnell sinkhole
Watercare is set to begin work today on laying a bypass pipe to reduce wastewater overflow caused by a broken pipe in Auckland's Parnell last week, but meanwhile wastewater continues to flow into the… Audio
Muriwai residents fear buyouts on council valuations, not market
Flood and landslide-affected Aucklanders worry they could be forced out of their communities if the council proceeds with buyouts based on its valuations.
Tower cuts reinsurance costs following boost to EQC cap
The insurance company says its latest strategy will provide more certainty for consumers, as extreme weather events become more common.
Cyclone Gabrielle outages beyond Transpower's control - ComCom
Building a more resilient power grid is complex and may take a lot of time and money, Transpower says.
Fears over falling funding for wilding pine control
Last week's fires at Pukaki Downs and Lake Tekapo show the need to keep up the funding in the battle against wilding pines - at least according to one Mackenzie District farmer, who says wilding pines… Audio
Flood warning for Waipaoa river near Gisborne; ferries affected
Gisborne has issued a flood warning for the Waipaoa River near the settlement of Te Karaka.
Flood rescue teams pulled back due to dispute over pay
Floods keep rolling in, but the country's new flood rescue teams have not been there to meet them.
RNZ can reveal the teams pulled back in the face of incoming storms in May despite saving 32… Audio
Wairoa Airport runway extension gets boost from govt
The current runway at the town's airport was too short to land large planes during the Cyclone Gabrielle response.
Students lend a hand in Queenstown slip clean-up
Three Otago university students have travelled to Queenstown to help clear a property that was red-stickered after heavy rains.
Southland still on alert, despite rain easing
Rain may have eased, but Southland is still on alert with flooding in many parts and roads still closed. There is now a region-wide state of emergency.. There have been evacuations in Wallacetown, to… Video, Audio
Queenstown's wettest day in quarter century causes debris & slash
Queenstown had its wettest day in a quarter of a century today, with mud, debris and forest slash running through the edge of town after a massive deluge of rain. The town got a month's worth of rain… Video, Audio
Whakaari/White Island trial ends with WML's closing arguments
The company managing the volcano said it had no presence on the volcanic island, so was not liable for operations that put the public at risk.
Update on wild weather in Gore
Returning to our earlier story, Gore is under a state of emergency after significant surface flooding inundated the town. Our reporter Tess Brunton is in Gore and speaks to Lisa Owen. [embed]… Video, Audio
Year-long battle to get a single cent out of insurer for wall rebuild
Gillian Parnham, awoken by a landslide crashing through her kitchen window a year ago, is still battling to get any money from Vero.