The teen drove to Karioitahi Beach and texted his friend he won’t be home till late.

A Fire and Emergency NZ spokeswoman said 13 crews were attending the fire.

Experts are reigniting calls to ban parents from smacking their children, with new research showing it can double rates of anxiety and depression in young people.

Corporal punishment remains legal in Australia, despite it being banned in 65 countries across the globe.

But a new study has revealed the practice is more prevalent than many would think.

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The research, led by the Australian Catholic University's Professor Daryl Higgins, found six in 10 people aged between 16 and 24 experienced four or more incidents of smacking in childhood.

"It almost doubled their risk of mental health issues in young adulthood such as anxiety and depression," Higgins said.

It also found those over 65 were more than twice as likely to use physical force than their younger counterparts.

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Melbourne mother Lana Wilton has told 9News that being gentle has always been the best approach for children.

She has tried different techniques to calm her kids and smacking isn't one of them.

"We just try and get down on their level be understanding and kind," Wilton said.

"We don't smack them and we try not to really yell or anything either."

"Sometimes we just have to ride it out until they get all their feelings out."

Experts say parents that do resort to smacking their children can feel shame and say there needs to be more parenting support and education in the community.

"I think that's a problem with society that we haven't actually showed them a better way, showed them a way that is more effective, that's safe and that works," Higgins said.

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As law enforcement officials went silent on Tuesday while investigating what led to the killing of seven people in rural US city, family members of those slain recalled the domineering nature of one of the dead, who was a registered sex offender.

Since announcing the bodies were found on Monday (local time), authorities have released scant information on who was dead, how they died and who killed them.

But grieving relatives working to piece together the horror story that started with two teenagers being reported missing, said law enforcement told them all the victims were shot to death in slayings that have stunned the community of Henryetta in Oklahoma.

READ MORE: Mum of US teen found dead at sex offender's home had no idea of his past

Janette Mayo was the first to say publicly that her daughter and three teenage grandchildren were among the dead.

Her daughter was married to Jesse McFadden, a sex offender who Okmulgee County Sheriff Eddy Rice said on Monday had also been killed and linked to two other teenagers reported missing this week.

McFadden had been controlling, Mayo said, which had concerned her.

But the family didn't learn about her son-in-law's criminal history until a few months ago.

"He lied to my daughter, and he convinced her it was all just a huge mistake," Mayo, of Westville, told The Associated Press.

"He was very standoffish, generally very quiet, but he kept my daughter and the kids basically under lock and key.

"He had to know where they were at all times, which sent red flags up."

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On Monday, Rice said the bodies were found on the property where McFadden lived near Henryetta, a town of about 6000 about 145 kilometres east of Oklahoma City.

The dead bodies included two teens who had been reported as missing and in danger — Ivy Webster, 14, and Brittany Brewer, 16 — and who were last seen with McFadden.

Rice said the state medical examiner would have to confirm the victims' identities.

Mayo, 59, of Westville, Oklahoma, near the Arkansas border, said the sheriff's office notified her late Monday that the other four victims were her daughter, Holly Guess, 35, and her grandchildren, Rylee Elizabeth Allen, 17; Michael James Mayo, 15; and Tiffany Dore Guess, 13.

Mayo said Tiffany was close friends with Ivy and Brittany, who were spending the weekend with the family.

While Rice declined to provide details of how they died, Mayo said the sheriff's office told her that her daughter and grandchildren were all found shot to death in various locations on McFadden's property.

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Ivy's father, Justin Webster, said he filed a missing person report with the local sheriff's office when she didn't return home on Sunday night after spending the weekend with McFadden, Guess and her children.

Justin Webster said he thought the children went with McFadden to spend some time on a ranch where he was working near McAlester.

He said law enforcement officials also told him that all of the victims suffered gunshot wounds, that some had been lined up and were located across the property.

Webster echoed descriptions of McFadden as controlling and unusual, but said he had no idea about McFadden's criminal background.

"I would say he was weird," Webster said.

"He was always getting into his kids' phones and reading all their snap messages and all that.

"It wasn't in a way of a concerned parent. It was more of keeping tabs on the kids."

The missing endangered person advisory issued early on Monday said Webster and Brewer had been seen travelling with McFadden, who was on the state's sex offender registry.

Oklahoma Department of Corrections prison records show he was convicted of first-degree rape in 2003 and released in October 2020.

McFadden had been scheduled to appear in court on Monday for the start of a jury trial on charges of soliciting sexual conduct with a minor and possession of child pornography.

Court records show he was communicating with a then-16-year-old girl using a contraband cell phone while he was incarcerated at a state prison near Muskogee.

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The teen's grandfather reported their communications to prison officials, according to an affidavit from a Department of Corrections investigator.

Webster hopes this whole ordeal leads to harsher criminal penalties for sex offenders, especially those who target children.

"The sexual (offender) registry doesn't work," he said.

"I think there needs to be action taken. There needs to be repercussions, and someone needs to be held accountable. They let a monster out. They did this."

McFadden's attorney in that case has not responded to a phone message left Monday evening.

The grim discovery in Oklahoma keeps the US on a torrid pace for mass killings in 2023 and could push the number of people slain in mass killings past 100 for the year, according to a database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in a partnership with Northeastern University.

In speaking to reporters Monday, Rice acknowledged another gruesome homicide case last fall in Oklmulgee County.

The bodies of four men were found October 14 in the Deep Fork River in Okmulgee, a small town about 24 kilometres north of Henryetta.

Joseph Kennedy, 68, has been charged with four counts of first-degree murder.

"We've had our share of troubles and woes, but this one is pretty bad," the sheriff said.

Lisa Thomas, who runs Bear Bottom Antiques on Main Street in downtown Henryetta, said the killings sent a shock wave through the tight-knit community.

"It is truly like a Mayberry here," she said as she arranged sunflowers in a barrel outside her shop.

"All the people that come into my shop are just wonderful. We are just in shock, absolute shock."

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Brittany Brewer's father told KOTV in Tulsa that one of the bodies discovered was his daughter.

"Brittany was an outgoing person. She was actually selected to be Miss Henryetta … coming up in July for this Miss National Miss pageant in Tulsa. And now she ain't gonna make it because she's dead. She's gone," Nathan Brewer said.

At a Monday night vigil, Brewer told hundreds of people: "It's just a parent's worst nightmare, and I'm living it."

He said his daughter had aspired to be a teacher or a veterinarian.

"I am just lost," he said.

Ivy Webster's mother, Ashleigh, described her daughter as a great kid who loved animals.

"She loved softball. She loved people, animals. She was just a genuine good person. She really was," Ashleigh Webster said.

Mayo described her daughter, Holly Guess, as a doting parent.

"She was a fantastic mother. She loved her children beyond belief. She was overprotective," Mayo said.

"She was supportive if they wanted to do something. She'd go out 100 per cent."

Granddaughter Rylee Allen "had a talent with a paint brush," she said.

"Rylee wanted to be an artist and wanted to be a doctor so she could help people."

Michael Mayo ran track and cross-country, and when he wanted to play football, his mother went out and bought the family T-shirts and sweatshirts to support the team, Mayo said.

Tiffany Guess also ran cross-country, she performed in the choir and had just tried out for the cheerleading squad.

"She was the sweetest, most loving girl you'd ever met," Mayo said. "We called her 'Tiffasaurus' because when she'd get mad at you, she'd growl."

Henryetta Public Schools said the community is grieving the loss of several students.

"Our hearts are hurting, and we have considered what would be best for our students in the coming days," the district said in a message posted online.

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Astronomers and stargazers across Australia will be treated to a rare double event this weekend, with both a lunar eclipse and meteor shower to pass across our skies.

The annual Eta Aquariid meteor shower is currently in effect and is expected to be in best view over the weekend, while a penumbral lunar eclipse will be visible in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Here's what you need to know to get a glimpse of the two phenomena.

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How to see the Eta Aquariid meteor shower in Australia

The Eta Aquariid meteor shower is an annual occurrence that takes place when the Earth passes through dust trails left behind by Halley's comet.

The shower is actually already in effect – in 2023 it is expected to last from April 15 to May 27, according to NASA – but it's expected to peak between May 4 and 7 – NASA says the night of May 4-5.

The exact amount of meteors that will be visible during this year's peak is uncertain, but it's estimated to be somewhere between 10 and 30 per hour.

In good news for Australians, the shower is seen more clearly from the Southern Hemisphere than in the north.

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But to get a view, you'll need to be up and about in the early hours of the morning as it's only visible before dawn.

"To view the Eta Aquarids find an area well away from city lights or street lights," NASA says.

"Come prepared with a sleeping bag, blanket, or lawn chair. Lie flat on your back with your feet facing east and look up, taking in as much of the sky as possible.

"After about 30 minutes in the dark, your eyes will adapt and you will begin to see meteors. Be patient – the show will last until dawn, so you have plenty of time to catch a glimpse."

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How to see the penumbral lunar eclipse in Australia

In the early hours of Saturday, May 6, there will be a penumbral lunar eclipse. These eclipses are slightly different from total or partial lunar eclipses, which occur when the moon is obscured by the umbra – the dark, central part of the Earth's shadow.

Instead, the penumbral eclipse happens when the moon comes under the Earth's outer shadow, which isn't as deep as the umbra.

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Saturday's eclipse will be visible in Australia and many other parts of the world, including Asia, Africa and much of Europe. It won't be able to be seen from either North or South America, though.

The eclipse will last for about four and a half hours: it will start at 1:14am (AEST) before reaching its maximum at 3:22am. It is expected to finish at 5:31am.

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Tyler King from Ngāpuhi has risen through the ranks of the National Moto Grand Prix.

Sao Yean had nothing to do with ‘bad drugs’ that led to a death. He paid with his life.

The first of the big four banks has passed on the Reserve Bank of Australia's shock interest rate hike as mortgage holders brace for sky-high loan repayments.

The central bank made the surprise decision against most market forecasts on Tuesday to raise the cash rate by 25 basis points from 3.6 per cent to 3.85 per cent in a bid to battle surging inflation.

Now the big banks are beginning to follow suit with NAB the first cab off the rank passing on the cash rate in full to customers.

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The bank announced its standard variable home loan interest rate will increase by 0.25 per cent from May 12.

Savers will benefit from the rate rise with the NAB Reward Saver bonus interest rate rising by 0.25 per cent to 4.5 per cent per annum and the NAB iSaver introductory and standard variable rates increasing to 4.5 per cent and 1.85 per cent respectively.

NAB Group Executive Personal Banking Rachel Slade said the central bank's decision to pause the relentless rate rises in April gave some "breathing room" to Australians.

"With the cash rate increasing again, there may be some customers who are concerned about their financial position, and we are here to help," Slade added.

Bringing the cash rate to 3.85 per cent is the 11th rate rise in 12 months and adds another $96 to the average monthly repayment on a $600,000.

Since the start of May 2022 – when interest rates were just 0.1 per cent – monthly repayments have increased by $1351.

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RBA Governor Philip Lowe said the surprise choice to raise interest rates after the April pause is because the cost of living and inflation, in particular, is still "too high".

"Inflation in Australia has passed its peak, but at 7 per cent is still too high and it will be some time yet before it is back in the target range," he said.

The target range for the central bank is 2 to 3 per cent.

"Given the importance of returning inflation to target within a reasonable timeframe, the Board judged that a further increase in interest rates was warranted," Lowe said.

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Lowe warned future rate rises are also likely given the struggle to push inflation in a downward direction.

"Some further tightening of monetary policy may be required to ensure that inflation returns to target in a reasonable timeframe, but that will depend upon how the economy and inflation evolve," Lowe said.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the decision to hike rates will come as a cruel blow to thousands of Aussie households.

"This is a really difficult position for a lot of Australians who are already under the pump," he said.

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The vibe from Sir Howard’s era can still be felt in the new centre.

Two figures in black were caught on camera dousing a luxury sports car in accelerant before it burst into flames on a Sydney street.

Police are still trying to find the two people "totally destroying" a bright blue 2022 Lamborghini Huracan in Olympic Park, which was captured in security footage released today.

The ball of flames lit up the night, with the explosion so loud it woke residents who raced out to find the car – worth up to $410,000 – ablaze in the early hours of the morning on Tuesday.

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NSW Police have appealed to the public for more information, with officers investigating if the fire was linked to an underworld revenge attack.

A BMW i8 parked in front of the Lamborghini was also damaged.

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"This car is totally destroyed, basically melting into the road," Superintendent Adam Dewberry said yesterday.

No one was injured.

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