South Auckland small business owners are feeling safer after a series of violent attacks in 2008, but say more police and security are needed.

Police slam the "negligent behaviour" of a person who informed the wrong family about a tragic logging death after listening in on a police scanner.

An eavesdropper informed the wrong family that a relative of their's had died following a forestry accident today.

A former television stuntwoman, whom rescuers spent 25 minutes reviving after a near-drowning on New Year's Day, has died after she was sent home from hospital.

The Fire Service is increasingly being sent to emergencies when an ambulance has been requested, statistics show.

A bus driver has been injured during a collision between two buses in central Wellington.

Firefighters battled a blaze at a massage parlour in central Auckland this afternoon.

Fire crews are still dampening down hotspots after a bush fire destroyed one house and forced the evacuation of several others in Roxburgh overnight.

Meet Auckland's only civilian dog search combination - Bridget Martin and Zinzan.

Dozens of drunk drivers, many with sober passengers, were caught by police near a popular campground despite warnings and a highly visible booze bus.

A woman is dead after a crash north of Queenstown this afternoon, taking the holiday road toll to six.