A German couple beaten and robbed in their tent in Whakatane early this morning have received an "overwhelming'' number of offers of help.

Family of a boy missing after falling into the Whakatane River are holding a silent vigil on the river bank this morning.

A 27-year old woman will appear in the Whakatane District Court today facing charges of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm after a man was stabbed in Whakatane last night.

A false alarm that triggered Whakatane's tsunami warning system last night has prompted fears residents might ignore a genuine alert.

White Island has remained quiet overnight following yesterday's eruption, GeoNet says, but the activity could be part of a bigger sequence.

Civil Defence will monitor White Island (Whakari) following a small eruption which could be part of a sequence leading to a bigger event.

White Island sightseers are being warned another eruption could occur "at any time with little or no warning''.

The family of murdered teenager Emily Longley are preparing to return to London for her killer's appeal, hoping it will bring some closure to the nightmare.

The grandmother of a toddler who suffered hypothermia after his CYF caregivers subjected him to cold showers wants to take legal action against the organisation.

A 2-year-old boy who almost drowned in a hot pool continues to recover in hospital.

Two Child, Youth and Family caregivers have avoided jail, despite abusing a 2-year-old boy who was hospitalised with hypothermia after being subjected to cold showers.

A 2-year-old boy who nearly drowned at a Bay of Plenty hot pool yesterday was not supervised by adults, the facility's owner says.

Aucklanders have been warned their coastline harbours the same potentially fatal toxic shellfish that have led to a record spate of poisonings in the Bay of Plenty.

Two armed robbers who were nabbed by patrons at the Whakatane bar they tried to hold up thought the heist would be easy money "like in the movies".

Two men are in court today after "courageous" patrons of a Whakatane bar intervened and stopped an armed robbery attempt last night.

A man who spent three days lost in Te Urewera has made sizeable donations to his rescuers and searchers and says he'll continue to donate the same amount each year.

A hunter who has been missing since Sunday in the Ureweras has this afternoon been found alive and well.