Christmas Day will be cloudy for most places around the country, but the weather should be settled enough to avoid rain.

Police are urging care on the roads over the holidays as a four-car crash leaves one person critically injured.

When you come across the things that drive you nuts about the holiday season, rest assured you're not the only one out there daydreaming about January.

Hospitals can be scary places for kids - so Radio Lollipop's mission is to put a bit of fun into children's wards while they are away from home.

It's the street that comes to life at Christmas time, and once again swarms of people have been turning out to see the Franklin Rd lights.

They had sailed from New Zealand in 2002 and were two years into their adventure when they moored in a bay off Phuket in Thailand for Christmas.

The dangers of working too hard and succumbing to gossip can be found in every office - including the administrative body of the Roman Catholic Church.

A baby was feared to be among the victims as six people died and eight were injured when a rubbish truck careered out of control and into crowds of Christmas shoppers.

We meet families returning home for Xmas.

Christmas is meant to be a time of happiness and good cheer. Instead I find myself getting very angry.

Police are putting their traffic enforcement focus on holiday black spots to keep the annual road toll from surging above 300 deaths.

It was the first time in 40 years Andrew Welch had not been home for Christmas, his brother Jeremy recalls.

With the annual summer exodus to the beach about to begin, motorists are being warned to take care while driving this festive season.

Last-minute Christmas shoppers spent more than $370 million at the weekend - the last before the big day, according to Paymark figures.

Barnardos has always led the charge in putting children first. The Garden Project is their newest initiative to promote gardening among South Auckland children and families...

Kiwis have already spent more than $3 billion in the lead-up to Christmas. Paymark yesterday revealed it had processed more than 59 million electronic transactions...

Matt Heath writes: Last Christmas my two boys got so many presents they became bored opening them - if your kids get too much, why not take them to see the people who don't?

Josh Emett gives us some of his top tips for outdoor entertaining.

Peter Capaldi breathed a sigh of relief when his first Christmas special wrapped.

For most of us, Christmas is a time of unrelieved joy - crackers, carols and cake - but a significant number of people fear the festive season

A primary school relief teacher is on the naughty list with parents this Christmas after apparently casting doubt about Santa's authenticity...

A sense of goodwill is around, extending even to those we find irritating and avoid at other times. Christmas is particularly suited to the Southern Hemisphere.

Santa Claus has admitted being in a bit too much of a rush after being caught speeding on his way to an old folks' home.

An alert from Google helped solve the case of a cache of Christmas presents and electronic equipment stolen from an Auckland home.

Seeking a warm and sunny Christmas Day? Head south. WeatherWatch forecaster Philip Duncan says 80 per cent of New Zealand will wake up to dry weather on Thursday...

Jetstar has pumped $25,000 into the Christmas Day lunch annually for three years. Airline staff also help by serving the festive meals.