A man who claimed he was the “doormat” of the Comancheros gang in Auckland has been sentenced after he hid 10kg of methamphetamine in his garage, with a street value of around $1.8m. He pleaded guilty to his role in an operation…

A pontoon carrying a crane broke free of its mooring in Brisbane, sparking an evacuation warning.

Police have asked anyone at the Howard Smith Wharves, including people in surrounding businesses and on the riverside walkaway, to stay away from the area.

A police helicopter has flown over the area with sirens on, with a warning for residents to "move away from the water's edge".

READ MORE: Major flood emergency gripping Queensland and parts of northern NSW

Officers are also walking around the wharves on foot, asking people to keep clear of the area.

Some residents stood on nearby balconies to have a look at the pontoon.

"Locals are advised to avoid the area and unless absolutely necessary, stay home," Queensland Police said.

Brisbane City Council is on standby with drones, in order for council workers to assess the situation.

However, council workers will have to wait until the police helicopter lands.

Lake weed on the $40 million lakefront redevelopment is causing a stench in Rotorua and has so far cost ratepayers about $20,000 to clear.The regional and district councils say it is due to a storm and high winds and the smell…

ANALYSIS: Children have participated in protests against nuclear weapons, wars, the loss of Māori land and customary rights, racism and child poverty. Young people themselves led the School Strike 4 Climate marches. …

National’s foreign affairs spokesman Gerry Brownlee wants the Government to expel Russia’s top diplomat from New Zealand and have New Zealand’s ambassador recalled from Moscow. This would be a serious and significant step. Countries…

Auckland mayor Phil Goff is calling for decisive action by police to end the anti-mandate protest lingering for a third day at Auckland Domain.All road access through the park in Grafton is blocked while a small group of protesters…

Around 22 per cent of people undergoing PCR Covid testing in Wellington are now recording positive results, as Omicron spreads throughout the capital. There were 604 new cases confirmed in the CCDHB area today, amounting to a…

Fully vaccinated, Covid-free travellers can enter New Zealand from Australia – without needing to self-isolate – from Thursday and Kiwis from anywhere in the world will be able to come home from midnight Friday, says Prime Minister…

A portable shower block is the latest addition to the protracted anti-mandate protest outside Parliament, amid warnings of worsening squalor and rampant Covid-19 infection.The block of prefab showers appeared yesterday on a neighbouring…

Test your brains with the Herald’s afternoon quiz. Be sure to check back on nzherald.co.nz for the morning quiz tomorrow. To challenge yourself with more quizzes, CLICK HERE.