Injured motorcyclists were airlifted to hospitals in two separate incidents in the lower North Island today.

Taxpayers may be offered discounts on their accident insurance levies in return for accepting lower compensation, longer waits and higher medical fees after an accident.

A driver accused of deliberately swerving into a woman's oncoming car has been cleared of her murder. Faaotaota Faaotaota was instead convicted of manslaughter, a charge he had admitted.

A run-in with a ride-on mower is being blamed for keeping the Maori King from at least one high-profile event.

An ambulance answering an emergency call and another vehicle collided in last night, causing a rush-hour traffic snarl-up.

A car has crashed into an ambulance with its sirens on in downtown Auckland this evening, and two officers, one of whom had to be cut free, have been taken to hospital.

An ambulance and Audi have been involved in a serious crash at the intersection of Lower Albert St and Customs St in downtown Auckland this evening.

The family of a woman killed when a suspected drink-driver drove into her picnic say they are devastated by the death of a loving, hard-working woman who "tried to get the most out of life".

Police are searching for a hitchhiker who may be an important witness to a drink-driving crash which killed Shelagh Cotter, 69, on Saturday.