Content warning: This article references sexual assault and violence. Helplines can be found at the bottom of the page. A man who kidnapped and violently raped a teenage girl he found walking on a Hamilton street is accused of then…

The latest lashing of wild weather in Auckland has closed the Harbour Bridge for the fifth time today.The bridge was closed for around five minutes just before 4pm – the fifth time today strong winds had forced transport officials…

A New Zealand high school’s adoption of a Pacific garment is being described as a step in the right direction.Students at Christ’s College in Christchurch can now wear ie faitaga to school as part of their uniform instead of grey…

Residents in parts of Northern Buller are being encouraged to evacuate as severe weather, including flooding and strong sea surges, continues to lash the area. Metservice has issued severe weather watches and warnings for heavy…

A child sex offender who used social media to contact his victims offered a 9-year-old girl money to have sex with him, a court has heard. Michael Loye appeared before Judge Ida Malosi in the Whanganui District Court on Monday…

Warning: This story discusses sexual offending. An Auckland doctor imprisoned after being found guilty of sexual violation has had his registration scrapped by the health sector’s disciplinary body – which has labelled the doctor’s…

A man's visa is under review after he allegedly got drunk, stole his employer's car and dumped it on train tracks, leaving it to be hit.

The 23-year-old was at home in Merungle Hill in central NSW, about 360 kilometres west of Canberra on Saturday night where he "consumed a large amount of intoxicating liquor", police said.

Police said the Vanuatu national, who doesn't have a driver's licence, then took a Hyundai Tucson owned by his boss and drove to nearby Regulator Road.

LIVE UPDATES: Roads packed as travellers flock to snow

"The accused has cleared a 3-4 foot gully, bounced along the grass for approximately 60 metres, before hitting the bottom of the track ballast (rocks used to hold train tracks)," NSW Traffic and Highway Patrol said.

"The man has hit the track ballast, launched over the train tracks and landed approximately 10 metres away from the train tracks."

He then reversed the car back onto the tracks where it got stuck, police said, before leaving the car and going home.

The next morning a train travelling from Griffith to Sydney reached the spot where the car had been dumped. The driver saw it in time and stopped.

READ MORE: COVID-19 luminaries recognised in 2022 Queen's Birthday honours list

A local farmer and his tractor then helped move the Hyundai from the tracks and the train continues on its journey.

"Police attended the drivers home address and spoke to the man, where he made full admissions to police," highway patrol said.

He has been charged with taking a car without the consent of the owner, driving without ever holding a licence, negligent driving and causing obstruction to a train.

The 23-year-old will appear in Leeton Local Court at a later date and his visa status is under review.

A man has died following a single-vehicle crash on Balmoral Drive, Tokoroa, police say. Police were notified around 2.20pm after the car crashed into a house.The driver died at the scene. He was the only person in the car.Inquiries…

An international shortage of diesel has become a “big issue” for Kiwi motorists, boaties and farmers. Across the world the price of fuel has risen dramatically this year, and AA principal policy adviser Terry Collins told the Herald…

The Golden Arches are no more as the Russian McDonald's restaurants have reopened after the corporation halted operations of its company-run restaurants in Russia in March following the Ukraine invasion.