A man whose body was found outside a block of flats in Palmerston North last week has been identified as Samuel Peter Culling.

Police are moving into the second phase of a homicide investigation after a man's body was found outside a Manawatu block of units yesterday.

A homicide investigation is underway in Manawatu following the discovery of a body outside a block of units this morning.

Central police communications Inspector John Spence said two trucks and a car were involved in the accident.

Police have launched an investigation into a "brazen" sexual assault of a 71-year-old woman in her Palmerston North home last night.

Pupils at a Palmerston North school have paid an emotional and touching tribute to a well-respected teacher who died last week.

A man has been arrested after a gun was fired during a fight in Waitarere Beach last night.

Motorists braved flames to free a driver and three passengers from a burning vehicle involved in a fatal crash near Palmerston North.

A Manawatu man was seriously injured when he was struck by a motorcyclist in a hit and run incident over the weekend.

Peter Dunne spoke on the issue on NewstalkZB this morning, the United Future leader was cautiously in favour of fluoride.

A man is dead after a shooting in Palmerston North last night. A police spokesman said the shooting occurred on Bradford Place in Awapuni around 7pm.

Police want to speak to the driver of a van after two people died in a head-on crash on State Highway Three near Marton this afternoon.

The heroic actions of a farmer who pulled a 17-year-old man from a burning car following a crash, have been praised by police.

A new police code of conduct sets out the high expectations for all police staff, the commissioner says.

One person was seriously burned and taken to hospital after a house fire this morning.

Shareena Sandbrook is a director and marketing manager of Palmerston North-based parking technology firm Frogparking.

A forensic scientist was concerned about the possibility that police footwear may have contaminated the murder scene.

Forensic scientist defends the method used to gather and test evidence during the Christine and Amber murder inquiry.

An officer who was criticised for his decision to not call 111 following the collapse of a soldier has stood by his actions at a coronial inquest today.

Mark Lundy told police a silver bracelet found in his car after the brutal murder of his wife and daughter must have been left there when his wife accompanied him on a business trip.

A police expert is defending her analysis of the distances Mark Lundy travelled in the days before his wife and daughter were murdered in their Palmerston North home.

Air New Zealand has confirmed it will operate its next $29 Night Rider service between Palmerston North and Auckland.