UPDATED Up to 200 drunken youths attacked an ambulance and forced a Hamilton events centre into lockdown after a Facebook party got out of hand.

A Hamilton supermarket worker went beyond his job description by chasing a wallet thief for several kilometres and helping in his arrest.

Hot air balloons from all around the world are rising into the skies above Hamilton from six parks around the city today.

A woman who collapsed and died while giving a breath test in a booze bus was so stressed by the situation it set off an arrhythmia in her heart, an inquest has heard.

A Hamilton man was lucky to escape injury but will still have some explaining to do after writing off his mother's car during an illegal street race, police say.

The partner of Diane White, who was killed by her mentally ill neighbour, has applauded police for "bravely" admitting a tragic botched job.

Police could have prevented the hammer attack death of Hamilton woman Diane White who was killed by her neighbour, the Independent Police Conduct Authority has found.

A man threatened to open fire on a group of police officers at a Hamilton house this morning.

Thousands of people attended the International Tattoo and Art Expo at the Claudelands Event Centre in Hamilton over the weekend. The popular annual event draws some of the best tattoo artists from around the country each year.

A man who crashed his ute on the outskirts of Hamilton this morning could have been trapped for hours if a witness hadn't seen the vehicle career across a paddock and into a creek.

The International Rodeo could be barred from returning to Forsyth Barr Stadium if the Dunedin City Council agrees to a plea from animal rights group Safe.

A Hamilton teen is dead and his 14-year-old mate is in Waikato Hospital with critical injuries because of a series of poor decisions that led to a crash, police say.

Waikato police say the consequences of poor decision making are readily apparent as officers investigate the death of a young man early this morning.

A 10-year-old girl had a gun pointed in her face while working at a Hamilton takeaway bar and her family is now "very afraid".

Police are appealing for information about aggravated robbery of a Hamilton takeaway bar on Saturday where a young girl was held up at gunpoint.

A visit to a blueberry farm is entertaining for the whole family, discovers Alexia Santamaria.

A health worker was left badly shaken when a man allegedly tried to sexually assault her in broad daylight outside Waikato Hospital yesterday.