Bay of Plenty defied trying conditions to outgun Manawatu last night.

The heavy rain that caused slips and surface flooding in the lower North Island is expected to stop this afternoon but many roads in the area are still closed.

Slips and surface flooding are causing havoc for motorists in the lower North Island as heavy rain and gale force winds sweep the region.

A farmhouse in Feilding has been cordoned off and a scene examination would be carried out over the coming days.

Police are continuing to investigate the deaths of two men and a woman whose bodies were found in a house on the outskirts of Feilding today.

Police investigating the death of Scott Guy are grateful for offers of rewards but will consider them carefully before accepting them.

The man killed when his car crashed into the Manawatu Gorge near Ashhurst yesterday morning has been identified.

For a wee boy, there are few places as perfect as dad's lap - but Hunter Guy, 2, lost that six weeks ago.

A car rocketed through a barrier like a "scud missile", plunging 30m into the Manawatu Gorge yesterday, killing the driver.

A police dive squad has recovered the body of a man from the Manawatu River following a crash earlier this morning.

Brazen but brainless thieves have risked their lives by breaking into a Manawatu wind farm switch yard in an apparent attempt to steal copper wire.

An earthquake has been felt in Palmerston North and other parts of the Manawatu as well as in northern Wairarapa and southern Hawkes Bay.

Manawatu looked good for much of their ITM Cup match last night, but it was Canterbury who finished stronger.

Thirty-four soldiers from just one army base have faced drinking-related court charges in the first six months of this year.

An international flying student did an "exceptional job" landing unhurt with a dead engine and missing a wheel after a fatal mid-air collision.