The road is expected to be closed until at least 6.30pm.

Labour's visit to Ratana Pa today was a relatively quiet one - the fireworks instead came from Gareth Morgan.

Labour leader Andrew Little has all but ruled out forming a post-election coalition with the Maori Party or Mana Movement.

Whanganui's annual Soapbox derby has been running for four years. And each year it gets more popular with local kids - and kids at heart. Made with funding from NZ On Air.

Bill English's arrival this afternoon was uneventful compared to his first Ratana visit in 2002 - also the first by a National Party leader.

State Highway 2 has been closed since the early hours of this morning following a fatal crash near Norsewood.

"We will stop paying rates to Horizons, and use the money to fund free beer on Sundays!" Made with funding from NZ On Air.

A rare 1945 Douglas DC3, owned by Air Chathams, and touched down at Whanganui Airport. Made with funding from NZ On Air

A rare 1945 Douglas DC3, owned by Air Chathams, and touched down at Whanganui Airport. Made with funding from NZ On Air

The fastest kids on the block in Whanganui gathered at Cook's Garden on Tuesday night.. Made with funding from NZ On Air.

Hawera Police want to speak to a Taranaki teen who has been missing since January 6.

An autistic teen who spent two nights in a police cell will be temporarily housed in a motel after Child, Youth and Family were ordered to find suitable accommodation.

District health boards are making their final preparations for the three-day strike by unionised resident doctors that starts tomorrow morning.

Watch NZH Local Focus: This is the city with the cheapest housing in New Zealand and local real estate agents are rejoicing.

Most of those injured in yesterday's Tongariro National Park bus crash have been discharged from hospital, tour boss says.

Look at what you can get for your real estate dollar in Whanganui, New Zealand's most affordable city. Made with funding from NZ On Air.

A truck driver has escaped with minor injuries after his vehicle rolled in Manawatu. It happened around 6.30 this morning on Halcombe

Queensland Police have found no evidence a New Zealand man found under an Australian bridge was seriously injured in a "gay hate crime" as his husband alleged.

Watch NZH Local Focus: Daniel Lee is walking the length of New Zealand to raise money for the rescue helicopter that helped save his life.

23-year-old Daniel Lee is walking the length of New Zealand to raise funds for the rescue helicopter that saved his life as a child. Made with funding from NZ on Air.

The man killed after pointing a shotgun at police didn't "get in with a bad crowd, he was the bad crowd" says elderly victim's daughter.

One person has died after a car and truck collided on State Highway 3 in Manawatu this evening.

The sister of a Marton man who died after a road accident in Palmerston North last Wednesday has described him as "my idol, my rock".

There's never a dull day for rescue helicopters.

Emergency services have freed one person after a car flipped onto its roof in Ashhurst, near Palmerston North. A police spokeswoman

A serious crash has blocked the southbound lane of State Highway 3 near Bulls.

Queensland Police haven't found any evidence suggesting third party involvement in the case of a NZ man who was found under an Australian train bridge with serious injuries.

It's peak season on the Whanganui River, with about 100 people a day finishing river trips at Pipiriki. About half of them are canoeists

An insect has put a nasty end to a German tourist's hike in the Whanganui National Park.

A man is in critical condition after a two-truck crash in Palmerston North, which has closed the road as freight spilled across both lanes.