Hundreds of families from as far away as Hamilton are queuing at the Auckland City Mission for help to put food on the table this Christmas.

When your job description involves saving lives, you need to be well-equipped.

Employers are changing the way they run Xmas parties to cater for more diverse workplaces, including an increase in Muslims who don't eat ham or drink alcohol.

A warning is being issued to motorists after a third of New Zealanders surveyed admitted to leaving valuable possessions in their car.

Many kids are begging Santa for Lego, iPads and iPods or a new dog or cat for Christmas in letters they have written, New Zealand Post says.

Holiday dinners could be put on hold after of a large number of Christmas hams, salamis and steaks were stolen from a Nelson butcher, police say.

Far from experiencing peace and goodwill at Christmas, nearly half of men admit to feeling sad or depressed over the festive season.

Radiant summer weather made a brief call to the North Island at the weekend, attracting hardy bathers into the still-cool water at beaches and creating a run on icecream.

Celebrity chefs and restaurateurs have banded together to ask diners to help feed needy Kiwis this Christmas.

The killing of big Maori surfer dude Tony Williams on the Gold Coast at Christmas three years ago barely makes sense.

Put that credit card in your pocket. There are lots of things you shouldn't be buying before Christmas. They're the items that the retailers keep at full price or not far off.

St Nick dominated Auckland's Viaduct Basin last night.

Those giving fly swats or tea towels for Christmas this year may want to think again - they have been voted among the worst presents Kiwis have received.

Santa lands in Auckland today but if you want to see him, use public transport and arrive early.

Smoke alarms are not most people's idea of a Christmas present, but the Fire Service wants us to think about them anyway.

Edibles essential for a Kiwi Christmas have risen by up to $6 an item in the past decade, an informal Herald comparison has shown.

Kiwi retailers are today hoping to cash in on "Black Friday", America's biggest shopping day of the year, by luring consumers with promises of big discounts on goods ahead of Christmas.

Celebrating the Christmas season doesn't need to be at the expense of the environment. Consider spreading some of your festive goodwill to the planet that sustains us all.

The Christmas madness is about to begin and for many retailers the stakes have never been higher, writes Business Editor Liam Dann.

Although the events shown in the Sainsbury's Christmas ad are fictional, they tried to make the details as accurate as possible. Everything from the insignia on the men's uniform to the depth of the trenches is based on historical fact. In this short documentary Sainsbury's talk to the experts who advised, interviewed the grandson of a soldier who was there, and hear first-hand accounts from both sides. Footage: Sainsbury's/YouTube

An Auckland mother and retail worker wants to make sure no one misses out this Christmas.

The annual Christmas Party is the perfect opportunity to kick back and celebrate a great year with your colleagues over a drink or two ... or is it?

It seems you can't keep a creepy Santa down, writes Shelley Bridgeman. The gigantic Santa is set to grace (or should that be disgrace?) Auckland's Queen Street for yet another festive season.

First it was the great Lewis Road Creamery Whittaker's chocolate milk shortage of 2014; then it was reports that Creepy Santa was being consigned to oblivion.

Some call him creepy, others call him a piece of cultural history - either way Auckland's giant Santa has been saved from early retirement.

Santa has been saved, with a family-owned company pledging money to keep him on Auckland's main street.