The two children who were killed when a riverbank collapsed in the Bay of Plenty have been identified as local boys Luti Maui Mafi and Pauly Lloyd.

The pair, aged 10 and 11, died after becoming trapped when the bank gave way at the Tarawera River in Kawerau yesterday, during what had been a day of fishing and playing with friends.

In a Facebook post, the whānau (family) of Luti Mafi, 11, said he was a treasured and much-loved son, moko (young child), nephew, cousin and friend "to many he touched in his short life".

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"He brought light, laughter and kindness into the lives of all who knew him.

"His bright spirit and gentle soul will be forever remembered and deeply missed."

The whānau said a service would be held for immediate family on Saturday.

"Forever and always in our hearts."

Tarawera High School in Kawerau said the death of one its students, who Stuff understands to be Luti, was "a heartbreaking loss" and that the school would close on Monday and Tuesday.

Kawerau Putauaki School also confirmed one of their students, who Stuff understands to be Pauly, 10, had died.

The school said it too would be closed on Monday and Tuesday.

Last night, a local junior rugby club shared a message identifying the boys and mourning the loss of two of its young members, describing them as "active and valued members" of their community.

"Kia ora whanau, for those of you who are unaware, today we lost two of our JAB tamaiti in a tragic accident," the post read.

"Both boys lived in Kawerau and attended our local schools. They, along with their whanau were active and valued members of our JAB community.

"We extend our deepest aroha and awhi to their whanau at this incredible difficult time. Hold your tamaiti close and keep them near.

"Our hearts are breaking for these boys, their whanau, and for everyone who had the privilege of knowing them.

"Moe mai ra korua e nga tama. Kia okioki i te rangimarie."

Tragedy at the river

Emergency services were called to the Tarawera River near Boyce Park about 11.30am (9.30am AEST) yesterday.

Police said a group of children had been fishing and playing on the northern side of the river when the bank gave way.

A rescue operation was launched, with police and Fire and Emergency NZ working to locate two of the boys who had become trapped.

"Sadly, two people were located deceased a short time later," Acting Eastern Bay of Plenty Area Commander Inspector Phil Gillbanks said.

Gillbanks said two police officers had swam across the river and attempted to dig for the children with their bare hands, but they could not be saved.

Local resident Kurūtia Tanoa said he rushed to the river after hearing a rescue helicopter.

"Our kids were in distress telling me their mate is stuck under the bank," he said.

Tanoa said three children were involved in the collapse, but one managed to free himself.

"Parents of the deceased turned up and there was a lot of tears going around. We as a community are always saddened when our tamariki are involved in an accident," he said.

Surf Life Saving New Zealand lifeguards in an IRB assisted emergency services to bring the boys and rescue personnel back across the river, where they were met by grieving whānau.

"I am extremely proud of the two police staff and the local volunteer fire brigade staff who did everything they could to locate the victims in perilous circumstances," Gillbanks said.

Local kaumātua (Maori elders) have performed karakia (prayers) and placed a rāhui (restriction) on the Tarawera River.

"Tūwharetoa has placed a cultural rāhui on the Tarawera River following the tragic incident earlier today," a statement from Tūwharetoa mai Kawerau ki te Tai said.

"The rāhui will remain in place until the 23 April 2026, and prohibits activities such as fishing, swimming, and all other recreational use of the river during this time."

People wishing to pay respects could do so from a distance, on the western (town side) of the Tarawera River near the Judo Club, she said.

Access was not permitted on the Eastern (Manukorihi side) side of the river.

'Hardest of days'

Kawerau mayor Faylene Tunui acknowledged the deaths of the children with "the heaviest heart" via a post on the Kawerau District Council Facebook page today.

"Together we stand in love and solidarity with the families who are in mourning for their precious loved ones."

Tunui said the community would unite to support the families "where and when appropriate".

"In these hardest of days we see the best of our community. Rest In Love."

The deaths of the boys were referred to the coroner.

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A mother asked her daughter to "keep lookout" while she crushed up a fatal dose of drugs and put them in her brother's smoothie, a jury has heard.

Maree Mavis Crabtree is accused of killing her 26-year-old son Jonathan with an overdose of painkillers on July 19, 2017 in the family's home north of the Gold Coast before making a $125,000 insurance claim.

The 59-year-old has also been accused of attempting to murder her son in January of the same year.

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Crabtree pleaded not guilty to murder, attempted murder and fraud charges when her trial began at Brisbane Supreme Court last week.

The jury on Friday began watching nearly five hours of video evidence from the accused's daughter Tara Crabtree that was pre-recorded on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Tara said she was one year younger than Jonathan at the time he died and living with him and Crabtree.

The jury heard Tara claimed Crabtree crushed up prescription painkiller and anti-anxiety tablets while Jonathan was passed out in bed.

"She cut up fruit and put it in the blender to blend it … watermelon, pretty sure mango, pineapple are the main ones I remember," said Tara, who has immunity from prosecution.

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Tara said Crabtree crushed up tablets with a hammer on a chopping board on the kitchen bench and added the powder to the fruit smoothie along with six bottles of liquid oxycodone opiate painkiller.

"She asked me to keep lookout for my brother. He came out and she gave it to him," she said.

Crabtree sat in the dock looking at the TV screen located near her feet while her daughter's evidence was played on Friday.

The jury previously heard Jonathan's behaviour had been severely affected by injuries he sustained in a car crash.

Crown prosecutor Caroline Marco asked Tara why Crabtree had put drugs in Jonathan's smoothie.

"He was violent, a horrible person to live with … we would have more peace and live a better life without him, that's what she said," Tara said.

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The jury previously heard Jonathan co-owned the family home and could not be evicted.

Tara said she had heard Jonathan struggling and making noises after he returned to his room with the smoothie but Crabtree told her not to interfere.

She testified that Crabtree feared she would be arrested and "lose everything" and Tara would be forced to live in a group home if Jonathan survived.

The jury also heard Tara claim Crabtree was concerned about the financial impact of Jonathan being sued by a person he allegedly threatened during a robbery of a pharmacy.

Tara said she was in "shock" after Jonathan died and Crabtree told her not to say anything if the police arrived.

"He committed suicide, that's what she told me to say," Tara said.

The jury is due to see video of Crabtree's defence barrister Angus Edwards cross-examine Tara about her claims.

Lifeline 13 11 14

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Five people, including two children, have been taken to hospital after a multi-vehicle crash involving an upturned truck on a major Victorian road.

Northbound and southbound traffic on the Hume Freeway was blocked south of Violet Town after a collision between a B-double truck and several other vehicles just before 1.30pm.

The condition of the truck driver was not immediately known.

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Two adults and two children were transported to hospital in Wangaratta for treatment.

They were in a stable condition, according to a statement from Ambulance Victoria.

"A man in his 50s was transported by road ambulance to Goulburn Valley Health in a stable condition," a spokesperson added.

It is believed the truck hit a roadworks vehicle before flipping and bursting into flames.

Six Country Fire Authority units were on scene along with police, SES and ambulances.

Violet Town is a country town south of Shepparton.

"Northbound traffic should detour via the Goulburn Valley Highway through Seymour to Shepparton then return via Benalla on the Midland Hwy," a statement from VicTraffic said.

"Southbound should exit at Violet Town and use the Murchison-Violet Town Road to the Goulburn Valley Highway, and rejoin the Hume in Seymour."

The detour would add about 45 minutes of driving time for those on the road.

The Hume Freeway connects Sydney and Melbourne and is one of the busiest freight routes in the country.

Thousands of trucks use the freeway everyday.

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Alleged war criminal Ben Roberts-Smith has left Sydney's Silverwater Correctional Complex, hours after being granted bail.

The former SAS soldier gave a thumbs up as he was driven away late this afternoon.

His eight-day stint in prison is over, but not without being told he would end up back behind bars if caught witness tampering.

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The 47-year-old was arrested on April 7 and charged with murdering or ordering the murders of five unarmed detainees while deployed in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012.

The Victoria Cross recipient made his successful application for bail at Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court today despite a judge hearing he had made moves to relocate overseas.

Roberts-Smith wore prison-issued green clothing and watched by audiovisual link from Silverwater prison.

In front of a packed public gallery which included the former soldier's parents, Judge Greg Grogin approved the bail bid, saying the strict conditions mitigated any risk.

"I take it by tonight you will probably be home," Grogin said.

"Thank you, your honour," Roberts-Smith replied.

The judge noted the consequences if Roberts-Smith approached any prosecution witnesses.

"His arrest would come very swiftly and he would find himself once again donned in green," he said.

The ex-SAS soldier would have been hampered in his ability to defend the case from prison which did not have facilities for the secure transport, storage and discussion of highly classified defence material.

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"It's not a matter of sitting in the legal box at a jail and talking about a matter which may be before the courts," Judge Grogin said.

Roberts-Smith would spend years in custody before a trial would occur, the judge noted.

A surety of $250,000 will be forfeited to the court if Roberts-Smith does not comply with his bail conditions.

He will be allowed to travel from his residence solely to consult with his legal team.

Earlier today, defence barrister Slade Howell said his client would comply with stringent bail conditions despite previous Federal Court findings he had threatened or interfered with witnesses.

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While the former SAS soldier had been making plans to relocate overseas, he was not a flight risk, the barrister said.

Howell highlighted the exceptional nature of a highly respected soldier such as his client facing five counts of war crime murder in a civilian court.

He argued that a superior court may have to consider whether the extraordinary publicity surrounding the case has made it impossible for the 47-year-old to have a fair trial.

Crown prosecutor Simon Buchen SC unsuccessfully opposed bail, saying the charges against Roberts-Smith were gravely serious.

The case against Roberts-Smith was strong, and there were eyewitnesses to the alleged murders, Buchen said.

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There was also evidence of the use of throw-downs, he said.

Throw-downs are objects placed onto deceased non-combatants to make it seem like they had taken part in hostilities.

While he acknowledged that bail conditions would prevent the 47-year-old from fleeing the country, the prosecutor said they could not prevent the risk of witness tampering.

Evidence that emerged in the Federal Court defamation trial included threatening witnesses, distorting evidence and using burner phones to evade authorities, he said.

An interim non-publication order has been made over the address Roberts-Smith will reside at on bail plus the police station he will report to.

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Crown prosecutor Simon Buchen SC opposed bail, saying the charges against Roberts-Smith were gravely serious and the case against him was strong.

While he acknowledged that bail conditions would prevent the 47-year-old from fleeing the country, the prosecutor said they could not prevent the risk of witness tampering.

Evidence that emerged in the Federal Court defamation trial included threatening witnesses, distorting evidence and using burner phones to evade authorities, he said.

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An interim non-publication order has been made over the address Roberts-Smith will reside at on bail plus the police station he will report to.

There was a real chance that people with strong opinions could use the opportunity to harm Roberts-Smith or those with him, Judge Grogin said.

A full hearing on these orders will take place on Thursday.

The 47-year-old has been accused of directly murdering two Afghan individuals and aiding, abetting or procuring the murder of three more.

He has consistently proclaimed his innocence.

War crime allegations against Roberts-Smith were first exposed by the now Nine-owned Fairfax Media in 2018.

The war veteran sued for defamation in the Federal Court but suffered a crushing defeat with a judge finding the accusations of murder were, on the balance of probabilities, true.

He failed to overturn these findings on appeal to the full Federal Court and the High Court.

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Electrify NZ says its e-bike sales have doubled since the energy crisis began.

Police are appealing for information after a series of suspicious fires at multiple Melbourne hospitality venues.

They include two fires, an arson, and two attempted arsons at licensed premises across the city's metropolitan area in the past week.

Detectives are hunting for any connection between the arsons, and for a potential motivation.

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"We have issued repeated warnings about the dangers of fire and the potential for those lighting them to suffer life changing or fatal injuries," Detective Inspector Chris Murray, Arson and Explosives Squad, said in a statement.

"Despite that, we have seen arsonists die or suffer serious and life changing injuries as a consequence of being paid very little money compared to the value of a life.

"Fire is incredibly unpredictable – those who are responsible are risking their lives, the lives of an innocent community around them as well as people's livelihoods."

The first incident was an attempted arson at a Londsdale Street just before 6am on Tuesday.

There was a fire around 3am on Wednesday at a venue on York Street in South Melbourne.

A 25-year-old Coburg man has been arrested in relation to the incident.

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There was a fire at a venue on Commercial Road in South Yarra just after 4am yesterday, the same time as an attempted arson at a venue on Cecil Street in South Melbourne.

Two more incidents occurred this morning: a drive-by shooting at a venue on Lonsdale Street and an arson at a venue on Southbank Boulevard.

Both occurred within 10 minutes, just after 4am.

Two boys, aged 16 and 17, were arrested around 5am in relation to the arson.

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Police are now calling on anyone with any information about the incidents – including who is responsible and what the motivation is – to come forward.

"I would implore anyone who knows anything about these incidents to visit us and tell us what you know before we visit them."

Anyone with information can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online.

"Please – if you're out in metropolitan Melbourne and particularly entertainment precincts this weekend – call triple zero if you see anything suspicious," Murray said.

"That could be a car that's driving too slowly, people behaving oddly or something that just doesn't look right."

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OPINION: Kiwis feel like they’re going backwards, regardless of the Government.

The alleged scammers drove the man in his 70s to the bank to get the cash.

He accepted he caused the fatal collision but argued it was not through dangerous driving.

Australia's south-east is bracing for a chilly weekend as a cold front brings near or below freezing temperatures.

Weatherzone reports this weekend will see the coldest nights to date this year with Thredbo in NSW expected to drop to -5 degrees.

Victoria's alpine resorts could see temperatures plummet to -3 degrees while even Melbourne could drop to 5 degrees tomorrow morning.

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Liawanee on Tasmania's Central Plateau will reach -4 degrees on Sunday morning, Weatherzone reports.

Meteorologist Angus Hines from the Bureau of Meteorology said in some areas, this will be the first really cold mornings of the year.

"The combination of high pressure across the south and the south-east, as well as clear skies and not much wind, is going to lead to some very chilly temperatures through the next couple of mornings."

Canberra is also set to dip below freezing early Sunday morning, possibly reaching -1 degrees.

The cold will spread into the Northern Tablelands hitting Guyra and Glen Innes by Monday.

Hines said as well as the cool change, the south-east could expect clear days.

"A bright, sunny day, but those temperatures are quite a lot lower than where they have been sitting through most of the week."

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