What's on the menu when, in an historic break with tradition, William and Kate spend Christmas Day with the Middletons while the other royals gather over 200km away.

An Auckland cafe is putting on a free Christmas lunch for locals struggling to make ends meet, saying that's what the spirit of Christmas is all about.

Parcels and envelopes for Bradley flooded in after a social media campaign was launched to make the football-loving youngster's Christmas a special one.

Health chiefs said 'self-isolation' would stop the spread of illness and keep the pressure off casualty units.

What will start out as a cloudy morning for most of the country should clear as the Christmas day wears on, but the odd shower is in store too.

The festive season is upon us again, and with it comes celebrations, good times, general merriment all round ... and a good deal of worrying about waistlines.

A few downpours and cooler temperatures will be lurking to potentially spoil an otherwise dry and sunny Christmas tomorrow.

It's not even Christmas yet, but Boxing Day sales are already kicking off.

Jake O'Driscoll was supposed to be an April Fool's baby, but the 22-year-old's entrance to the world was a little earlier than expected. Born

Ruth Spencer suggests ways of leading the conversation at the festive dinner table.

Ruth Spencer on the art of Christmas crackers.

Here are some pre-Christmas detox tips to make sure you don't pile on the kilos over the silly season.

Paul Little decided to take his wife and five kids to Paris. What could go wrong?

Christmas is the year's most important holiday for a child, as David Herkt recalls.

When your dad's birthday is at Christmas, tradition goes out the window, writes Kim Knight.

Sharon Stephenson recalls a New York Christmas where the icy atmosphere was not solely due to the winter.

Feeding your dog a festive treat might seem like a kind thing to do during season for giving - but doing so actually puts your loved one's health at risk.

At actor Will Hall's Kaukapakapa home he and his wife Sarah have both been working hard to prepare for the Christmas festivities.

It's about this time every year, before I set out, that I have to silence the little voice in my head that says, "This is too big

Every week I entreat you to write and you have and you do. Sometimes you've been cross, occasionally cruel, mostly, though, you've been thoughtful and you've been kind.

The winners of the biggest Lotto prize ever in New Zealand are looking forward to a low-key Christmas.

A philosopher writing in the Herald this week, Massey Professor Bill Fish, pointed out that Santa Clause is real.

COMMENT: The days of your sweating over Christmas dinner preparation could soon be a thing of the past

New daughter has dad wrapped round her finger, say couple who started charity to help kids after losing their son.

Steve Braunias looks back on a year of thinking dangerously.

Church leaders remind us that the message of Christmas goes beyond just words.

Auckland Central MP Nikki Kaye speaks about the positives following a "gruelling few months" since her breast cancer diagnosis.

An elderly woman has died after being hit by a car in Takapuna, on Auckland's North Shore. She is believed to be the first person killed in holiday period.

Syrian refugee Mohamad Eid Morad and his family are grateful to be celebrating a safe first Christmas together in New Zealand.

Like many Kiwi kids, 6-year-old Arian Truter loves Christmas. But this December 25 will be extra special because it's a miracle he's here to celebrate it.