For some, Christmas doesn't always go as smoothly as hoped.

New Zealand Defence Force personnel in Iraq to Antarctica, and many countries in between, opened 220 Christmas parcels from the RSA today.

The two people killed in the Christmas Eve bus crash near Gisborne last night have been named, as the driver of the bus says the brakes failed.

There's no paws for Santa Claws as Auckland's cat cafe opens its doors for Christmas.

Auckland City Missioner Chris Farrelly says it took a massive effort to put together New Zealand's largest Christmas lunch.

These women do and they demand cash or bank transfers ahead of Christmas Day.

Christian leaders around the country have wished the country and their congregations well this Christmas by sharing festive season messages.

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.

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

Holiday Babies: There is something worse than having your birthday on Christmas Day, being told it sucks.

Not only does Peter Tolich risk having his birthday overshadowed by Christmas every year, he also has to share it with two other people.

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

Ruth Spencer on the art of Christmas crackers.

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.

The best spots for enjoying a Christmas hamper outdoors will be in the Bay of Plenty, Nelson and Central Otago tomorrow.

If you haven't done your Christmas shopping yet, there's still time - but prepare for the madness.

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