A stolen car sought by police in connection with an assault ploughed into a large road sign pole in Hamilton, critically injuring a teenager.

A 20-year-old has drowned at an Auckland beauty spot this afternoon.

The mother of Matthew Smith has extended her "heartfelt thanks" to those who tried to revive her 10-year-old son when he was electrocuted at the family home.

An 83-year-old woman driver died after her BMW and a stock truck collided on the outskirts of Hamilton yesterday afternoon.

Two men are recovering from burns after the power pylon they were working on exploded, cutting electricity to nearly 800 homes.

Two linesmen have suffered superficial burns in an explosion in Warkworth, north of Auckland.

A driver died after their car collided with a stock truck in Hamilton this afternoon.

The number of injury compensation claims accepted from netball players has increased sharply, far outstripping the rise in the number of people playing the sport.

Kiwi documentary maker Rob Harley was one of the first journalists to get close to the Texas fertiliser plant after the explosion.

A massive explosion at a fertiliser plant in the Texas town of West killed at least five to 15 people and injured more than 160 others, leaving the factory a smouldering ruin and levelling buildings for blocks in every direction.

The desperate plea for help was one of many that poured into 911 in the moments after the West Fertiliser Plant exploded in Texas yesterday while firefighters were trying to contain an earlier blaze.

One person has suffered serious injuries after a train and a car collided in Hawkes Bay this afternoon.

A female scooter rider has died in a crash at Rotorua this morning and a second serious crash was being attended by emergency services in Putaruru.

Two men have been injured in motocross incidents near Nelson.

A top police officer is calling for unlicensed drivers to be banned from buying vehicles after a horror motorcycle death last week.