The mother of a 13-year-old injured when a jetski rammed his boat has defended letting him and his mate, 11, go on the water alone.

The wife of Hanover Finance boss Mark Hotchin, Amanda, says she has been wrongly portrayed in the media.

Often the journey is better than the destination and so it proved at the ASB Classic.

The average winnings per person from Lotto and Big Wednesday contests for Buller's 9700 residents is $1184.96.

The man arrested for allegedly trying to set fire to a campervan with two people in it has been charged with the attempted murder of the pair.

Queensland residents are about to begin the monumental task of cleaning up their properties as floodwaters start to recede.

A 10-year-old Hamilton girl has died after cycling down a flight of stairs. The girl had been cycling to the dairy with her aunty and cousin when the accident happened.

Beach-goers appear to be heeding warnings to swim between the flags, although some surf lifesaving clubs are finding the summer busier than others.

Roads and vehicles must be "more forgiving" to curb a road toll which averages more than one death a day, the AA says. Figures released by the Ministry of Transport today show 371 people died on the roads over the past year.