Latest from Christmas

Recipe: Trifle (but not as we know it)
Serves 12. 1 ripe pomegranate. 2 fresh papaya (paw paw), nice and ripe. 9 kiwifruit peeled and thickly sliced. 1 pineapple, cut into 1cm chunks. Trifle sponge, bought or made.

Recipe: Strawberries on toast
Toast slices of day old bread, one side only. The bread needs to be reasonably rustic, eg, a country style loaf. Slice strawberries and pile these on to the untoasted side of the bread. Sift a good amount of icing sugar over the fruit.

Loans at 500pc interest
Christmas shoppers are being tempted with offers of "interest-free" cash loans before an interest rate in excess of 500 per cent kicks in.

Fresh and fruity Xmas (+recipes)
I’m a big fan of Christmas pudding with custard and cream followed by a dish of trifle after Christmas dinner. However, the stomach has its limits! I can almost feel mine groaning at the thought of it.

Grant gives allergy kits wings to help
It can be stressful sending your child to school and not knowing if they will be able to avoid the food they are allergic to or if staff know what to do in an emergency.

Theatre review: Kim Dotcom in MegaChristmas
Most of the gags work and Dotcom is great, but MegaChristmas could have done with some editing, writes Paul Simei-Barton.

How to ease the Xmas chaos
It's that time of year again. So much to do. Here's how to keep your cool during the silly season.

Rhys Darby: Fake snow joy
Well folks, it's that time of year again! The Christmas season is upon us. Often a confusing time of the year for those visiting the Southern Hemisphere.

Three of the best Christmas dinners
Eating may be cheating a lot of the time during the year, but not at Christmas when it's open season on treats. And let's pretend New Year's Day, with its pesky resolutions, isn't just around the corner.

Retailers ready for bonanza
Retailers are in a Christmas sale free-for-all with only 15 days left to the 25th.

Abduction alleged at Christmas party
Auckland police were last night investigating the kidnapping and abduction of a woman at the ever-popular Christmas in the Park.

Air crew dishing up free festive feast for homeless
About 2500 appreciative Kiwis will tuck into a free Christmas lunch, courtesy of your Sunday newspaper and airline Jetstar.

Six-year-old filled with Christmas spirit
Six-year-old Elise Paki hopes her cat-and-dog inspired Christmas tree impresses Santa more than his usual milk and cookies.

Kids test latest toy gadgets
Thinking of putting a Tablet in the kids' Christmas stockings? Who better to test these gadgets than those who have them on their wish list.