Speed restrictions and a reduced train timetable are in place from tomorrow in Wellington.

A witness said a motorcyclist was involved in the incident.

A woman has drowned in rough surf at a popular tourist beach on the southern Gold Coast.

Emergency services arrived near Snapper Rocks in Coolangatta at 3.15pm after reports that three people had "come into trouble in the water".

A woman in her 40s and one child were rescued, along with a good Samaritan who entered the water to assist them.

READ MORE: First responder talks for first time about deadly helicopter crash

"Despite resuscitation attempts the woman died at the scene," Queensland Police told 9News.com.au.

Police said the child and the good Samaritan were taken to Gold Coast University Hospital in a stable condition.

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About $150,000 is expected to have been raised.

The announcement has sparked advocates’ hopes of a nationwide rail revival.

Emergency services raced to the scene on Paparoa-Oakleigh Road at around 3.20pm today.

Harry Fredrickson Gold Cup goes to Auckland’s Brad Simpson.

Pat Magill, social justice campaigner extraordinaire, lived all his 96 years in Napier

Rain is forecast to fall every day until Saturday in Tauranga and Rotorua.

Plans were abandoned for safety concerns, engineers outlined a way to go ahead with it.