A Wellington man has pleaded not guilty to careless driving over a car crash which killed his partner's unborn child.

Two male German tourists working in New Zealand were critically hurt in a crash in the Cromwell Gorge last night.

Two 15-year-old girls are being hailed as heroes after going to the rescue of men caught in a rip and near drowning at a Northland beach.

A man has been charged over a car crash in Wellington which killed a woman's unborn child.

A number of quad-bike accidents ending in death and injury over the holidays have led to renewed calls for riders to take greater care.

A number of quad bike accidents ending in death and injury over the holiday period has renewed calls for users to take greater care when using the vehicles.

Traffic is backed up on Auckland’s Northwestern motorway after a collision between a truck and a car.

An out-of-control car came close to demolishing one of Northland's oldest hotels when it skittled all but two of the pillars holding up its first floor verandah.

Ross Mulholland is a "model patient" who has done everything possible to give the reattached digits the best chances of recovery.

Wellington police have released the name of the cyclist who was killed when he was struck by a car on Ohariu Valley Road yesterday.

A cyclist has died after colliding with a car near Wellington this morning. Police are at the scene and it is expected the road may be closed for several hours.

Two Australian climbers were injured on Aoraki/Mt Cook overnight when they were hit by ice and fell 200m.

Debbie Armstrong is still haunted by the memory of watching her husband die, but she has managed to carry on.

A doctor on duty when a group of injured people were brought in after a quad bike crash says innocent people will continue to be hurt if there is not a change in attitudes towards alcohol.

Parents of children killed in the Doha Mall fire last year say they have been attacked by defence lawyers in a hearing to determine responsibility for the 19 deaths.

A little girl was fighting for her life in the Starship last night as police investigated whether four adults riding with her on a quad bike that crashed should be charged.

Police are deciding whether charges should be laid against the four drunk adults who took a 6-year-old girl on a quad bike that crashed and left her injured.

A record low holiday road toll has been welcomed but more efforts are needed to continue to improve road safety, say police.

Kirsten Steinke has been able to welcome in the new year at her parent's home, three months after a collision claimed the life of her newlywed husband.

Last year New Zealand recorded its second lowest road toll in 50 years, with the deaths of young people significantly stemmed, police say.

The road toll for the year stands at 318 - more than 40 higher than the 2011 tally.

A flash flood which unleashed a "wave of water'' claimed the life of a Greytown man who won an Oscar for his work on LotR.

Two people were taken to Whangarei Hospital by ambulance following a road crash on State Highway 1 this morning.