The outsized rodent, which has been named the Bosavi woolly rat, is almost a metre long and weighs in at 1.5kg.

Thousands of children turn out to farewell Kashin the elephant, with the zoo keen to replace Kashin within the next 12 months.

The Auckland Regional Health Service warns poisoning is still possible at Auckland beaches, but lifts its warning on people going to the beach.

Much-loved Kashin buried on hillside where she and Burma used to forage.

Auckland Zoo closes for the day as staff grieve the loss of 40-year-old Kashin the Elephant, who died yesterday.