SH 29 over the Kaimais has been closed to traffic as emergency services deal with a fatal crash. The scene is not far from the summit on the Hamilton side.

Police were notified of the two-car, head-on crash at 4.08 pm and reports from the scene are that one person has died.

At 1.30pm Saturday afternoon the Rotorua based BayTrust Rescue helicopter was despatched to assist a Rotorua Ambulance crew that had been tasked to an injured horse rider near Rerewhakaaitu (31km SE of Rotorua).

Counties Manukau Police are investigating an incident which occurred overnight in Pukekohe.

In the early hours of this morning, a 24 year-old man was found unconscious by a member of the public near the intersection of Princes and Beatty Street.

A front is expected to move slowly northeast over the South Island today and the North Island on Sunday. A strong moist northwesterly flow ahead of this front is expected to bring heavy rain and severe gales to many areas.

An 'early spring' storm is boosting temperatures into the mid 20s at what should be the coldest time of the year historically says WeatherWatch.co.nz.

There are currently heavy rainfall and severe gale warnings and watches in place for many parts of the country.

Today the Tauranga based Trustpower TECT rescue helicopter was called to Te Kaha where a 4 month old baby boy had been taken to the local medical center because of breathing difficulties.

A front is expected to move slowly northeast over the South Island today and the North Island on Sunday. A strong moist northwesterly flow ahead of this front is expected to bring heavy rain and severe gales to many areas.

Seventy eight hectares of land on Auckland’s wild west coast has been added to the Waitakere Ranges Regional Park.

A strong, moist northwest flow covering the country is expected to remain until an active trough moves up the country during Saturday and Sunday, bringing a colder southwest change.