A girl, 9, allegedly tortured and abused by her parents will spend Christmas with a new foster family.

Frustrated shoppers have resorted to fighting over carparks at shopping centres as the deadline for Christmas shopping draws near.

Holidaymakers joining the Christmas exodus from Auckland are being encouraged to check road and traffic conditions before leaving home, to improve chances of safe and relatively hassle-free trips.

Dr Marc Shaw, serving in Afghanistan, writes about his experience of a Christmas far from home.

It's the most steadfast of Kiwi Christmas traditions. But the pavlova can also be a little tricky to master. Here are some tips from a newly crowned expert.

A selection of Christmas church services in the main centres.

Slow your life down and get back to basics during your summer break.

For the grieving families of 29 men lost in the Pike River mine, the financial burden is being eased by the generous Kiwi spirit.

Aucklanders will be needing parasols instead of rain umbrellas on Christmas and Boxing Day because long fine spells are forecast.

One of NZ's most experienced road policing officers has resigned, saying the job is taking too great a toll on his health.

Donna Fleming agonises over the morality of perpetuating the myth of the jolly fat guy in red.

Kiwi kids have spread a little Christmas cheer to those stranded at Heathrow Airport in London.

What do some of our friends in fashion, design and food have planned for their Christmas break?

Two Air New Zealand flights have taken off from London's Heathrow Airport this morning.

An Auckland woman was illegally refused by six drivers because her journey from the Viaduct was too short.

A field hospital has been set up in the heart of London's financial district to treat blind-drunk corporate revellers.

The festive season is a time of excess. But as the country’s top traffic officer Paula Rose tells Alan Perrott, there is little cheer in counting its cost.