Do you know the happy couple who got engaged in front of hundreds of shoppers at Auckland's St Luke's mall yesterday?

In her annual Christmas message Queen Elizabeth II calls upon people of faith to take time in the new year to pause for reflection and contemplation. She acknowledges the birth of a new child and the joy the occasion brings.

Door procedures were tightened at the Auckland City Mission Christmas dinner yesterday after a group of Chinese tourists ate there for free last year.

Check out the day's best Christmas photos from around the world.

Here's a round-up of some of the slightly more out-there Christmas customs.

Santa could find himself fighting gale force winds in some areas tonight before rain heralds in Christmas Day for much of the country.

Eftpos transactions reached record highs today as Kiwi shoppers, filled with "Christmas spirit'', packed out stores around the country.

Doctor Scott Waghorn, of DentalCare West in the Auckland suburb of Glen Eden, is offering about $25,000 worth of free dental work today - for the third year running.

Pilots over Australia will be doing their bit to keep clear of Santa this evening.

Danielle Wright meets Auckland families and hears about their Christmas traditions ‘back home’.

It's time everyone paid more attention to the words of Christmas songs. There's a wealth of hidden meaning in the festive season's soundtrack.

Traditions are comforting, but as Danielle Wright discovers, sometimes a break from tradition is what makes a day special. Here are alternative Christmas menus to consider.

Jana Gallagher, 16, and Rochelle Sanderson, 15, were making the most of the summer sun at Takapuna Beach yesterday.

Volunteers, good preparation and a cool head vital in getting Christmas Day meal to 2500 City Mission diners.

$10,000 donation will be used to buy new bicycles and safety gear for Mangere resettlement centre project.