A man has been found guilty of the manslaughter of his cousin, who died from a brain abscess after he hit him on the head with a bottle.

The official warning over a tsunami that threatened the entire east coast of New Zealand today has been downgraded to an advisory, but there is still a threat from ocean surges.

Tsunami warnings look to be cancelled as beach-goers who waited all day outside the water start heading home.

Civil Defence authorities have downgraded the tsunami warning for New Zealand. However, New Zealand authorities are warning that there could be surges for up to 24 hours.

Paua fishermen are diving back into the seas and surfers are out to catch waves even as tsunami warnings stay in place.

New Zealand east coastal areas aren't out of the woods yet, with Civil Defence authorities and scientists electing keep the tsunami warning in place.

Wave activity "appears to be stabilised" at previously-reported levels, Civil Defence Emergency Management says.

The first wave has reached the Chatham Islands, after a massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake hit Chile overnight. An official tsunami alert remains in place for New Zealand's entire east coast.

A man who fed live kittens to his pitbull claims he is 'an animal lover'.

Rest-home nurses who rushed to an 82-year-old patient's scream found her on the floor with another patient's walking frame on top of her.

Rain eased in Gisborne overnight and surrounding roads reopened after flooding and slips caused evacuations.