Pet owners are spending up to $250 to get special photos of their pets with Santa Claus.

Is this the most extreme Christmas present of 2016?

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will spend a private Christmas with the Middleton family this year, instead of joining the rest of the Queen.

While most of the country is awash with the Christmas spirit, it appears Nelson forgot about the festivities.

You know you're in Northland when Santa arrives by waka ama with a United Tribes flag flying proudly from the back of his canoe.

The fall in itself was nothing special. It was more the terrible inevitability of it, toppling so sickeningly slowly. Four stricken

COMMENT: New tectonic plates for Kaikoura would be a great way to start 2017 but if not world peace will do nicely.

Join Molly Henley as she takes a hands-on tour of the new Woah Studios, the only studio open to the public in New Zealand.

The Salvation Army says a gift appeal is further behind its target than at any other point in the appeal's 23 year history.

A Wellington MyLotto player won $5million in Wednesday's Lotto Powerball after his friend joked about sending "good vibes out to the Lotto gods".

Rain may be on the way for Christmas day, but this far out it is hard to say for certain.

There's a solitary doll hidden among the teddies, dinosaurs, trains, cars and spaceships in this image. Can you find it?

From twerking to gossiping to trying to keep the party going afterwards, these are the biggest office Christmas party blunders you'll want to avoid.

Every week a group of up to 40 adults with physical disabilities or special needs let their hair down.

A group of AUT academics have joined forces to present the stories behind some of our best-loved but often misunderstood Christmas traditions.

So how does Father Christmas do it? One physicist believes she has an answer - and Einstein is the key.

Join Laura McGoldrick as she goes Christmas shopping with Super Shopper, Sue Devonshire.

A women filmed a squirrel's repeated theft of her Christmas light bulbs - one by one, the "Bulb Bandit" made off with 150 in 24 hours.

The day after his Christmas party, driver was still three times over the drink-drive limit.

A child playing with a lighter is believed to have started the fire that destroyed a house in Otumoetai yesterday. The fire service

Often it's the first time a Kiwi girl from Morrinsville or Te Awamutu has hung out with a refugee from Somalia or Afghanistan, but in most cases it won't be her last.

Now that Gisborne is out of the unexpected chaos and back to the usual Christmas mayhem, locals are reflecting on how it all started. Made with funding from NZ On Air.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle look to be planning a Christmas together, after being spotted shopping for a festive tree in south London.

Last year she received widespread condemnation for showering her three children with 87 presents each. This year is no different.

Needy families wanting to give their kids a decent Christmas are queueing up for help from the Auckland City Mission.

Businesses are getting into the Christmas spirit, offering giveaways, discounts and donations to charity in the lead-up to Christmas.

Facts about the christmas road toll such as the highest and lowest amount of deaths and the factors involved.

HELPING HAND: Haeata Charitable Trust founder and friend Teisha Reihana is supporting the Filo family, who had all their Christmas

With play stations and computers hogging playtime, the importance of reading and the social and academic benefits that come with it are often forgotten.

COMMENT: Based on the consistent comedic joy of the viewing experience, and how well they embody something resembling the spirit of Christmas.