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.

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.

We meet families returning home for Xmas.

The Marsden Cross is known to most of us only as a photograph. It is on a remote northern shore in the Bay of Islands, not as accessible as Waitangi or Russell.

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.

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?

Two good Samaritans buzzed into the Auckland Zoo carpark on a Vespa at the weekend, randomly handing out Christmas cards containing $100 apiece.

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

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...

A city chief executive is being accused of kissing female staff at a company Christmas party - and joking he was acting "a bit like Roger Sutton".

If you’re still wondering what to get the father-in-law for Christmas or intend reclining under a shady tree for the holidays, the Herald on Sunday looks at some of the best sports books on the shelves this year

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

For most people Christmas Day represents a wonderful coming together of family members, sharing food, catching up and going over funny memories...

The much-loved Christmas song by Willow Macky is not only distinctive to New Zealand but also remarkably good history.

Christmas is traditionally a time for families to come together and for friends to catch up. But for many others, particularly the elderly, it can be a very isolating and sad time.