When a thief struck in Napier, he took the one thing owner Zan Lee had installed to prevent things being taken.

A Hastings couple have been remanded on bail for sentence on multiple burglary charges after a series of raids on the homes of the woman's parents and one of her neighbours.

She was described as a happy, healthy child - then bruises began to appear on the then 17-month-old's face and head.

A Hastings retiree illegally selling meat to cover the cost of his hunting trips has been netted by an undercover seafood operation.

More than 100 Hawke's Bay young offenders will be given the chance to gain their driver's licences and improve their employment opportunities.

The Government's big-spend on "social investment" is being treated with scepticism by some of those battling issues such as housing and child poverty.

A volunteer teacher killed in a crash earlier this week had already "made her presence felt" - just two months into a year-long stint at Hohepa school.