The ten gifts you'd rather not find under your Christmas tree this year.

Normally, talkback in the week before Christmas is full of callers ringing in with lovely stories of family get-togethers and their own personal Yuletide traditions, and we wish each other well for the holiday season. Nice, warm, fuzzy stuff.

Superyachts and their millionaire owners are in port - and they're sharing the Christmas spirit. The locally-built 50m Ohana and the palatial 58.5m Ulysses are the big attractions around Auckland's Viaduct Basin.

I love Christmas. It's my favourite holiday of the year. Having family and friends around the table, putting on a lavish spread, coming up with thoughtful gifts for people I care about - it's a wonderful celebration.

Christmas isn't just about grabbing at a huge pile of presents, it's also a great time for giving, or buying "good" gifts - the sort that make the world a better place.

Northland is in for a drenching this weekend, as the remnants of Cyclone Evan brush the country.

Consumers cutting loose after a year of watching their wallets is one reason for a huge increase in Christmas spending, according to the Retailers Association. Paymark said just over $3.2 billion went through its network between Nov 30 and Dec 20.

Cyclone Evan's going to put a bit of a dampener on Christmas - it's likely to be wet, hot and humid. The remnants of the tropical cyclone which hit Samoa and Fiji are set to reach New Zealand around Christmas Eve.

Christmas always proves the adage: it is easier to give than to receive. Not that giving seemed easy this week as we searched the shops for something loved ones would like.

Kiwi Christmas get-togethers can often begin with big reunions outside Auckland Airport's arrivals gate. This week, the Herald captured some of those precious moments:

New Zealand soldiers overseas this Christmas have been sending their love to their families and friends back home in New Zealand.

If you haven't sorted your Xmas selections yet you may be starting to panic about finding the perfect present for each person on your list. Go easy on yourself by simply buying a gift set.

Two personal finance companies - one of which charges over 500 per cent interest a year if loans are not paid back in two weeks - are in a High Court stoush over a super hero logo.

Christmas can be one of the most dreaded times for women and children affected by domestic violence.

Doris and Jose Aponte arrived in Auckland on Monday with daughter Dorica, tired from their long flight but delighted to see Dorica's sister Alex.