As drought grips the country, the Government is promoting giant dams to irrigate dry farmland. Geoff Cumming investigates whether the biggest of these plans will work for farmers, investors and environmentalists

A 34-year-old Hastings man has died while diving at a remote beach in central Hawke's Bay.

Burning cowpats proved problematic at a large grass fire in Te Hauke, south of Hastings.

An intoxicated man led police on a dramatic chase across rooftops in central Hastings yesterday, before he was tackled, cuffed and removed by a fire truck ladder.

Seven people were taken to hospital with broken bones, cuts and abrasions after the van they were in crashed into a drain yesterday afternoon.

A number of quad bike accidents ending in death and injury over the holiday period has renewed calls for users to take greater care when using the vehicles.

Police are deciding whether charges should be laid against the four drunk adults who took a 6-year-old girl on a quad bike that crashed and left her injured.

A 17-year-old was in police custody last night after a car sought since a mid-afternoon chase stretching more than 15km crashed in a narrow suburban Napier street.

The new year looks a whole lot better for one lucky person, who picked up $15 million in the Big Wednesday draw last night.

Seven gang members have been arrested following an all-in brawl involving a meat cleaver, hammer and axe in Hastings today.

A 12-year-old boy had to have a slug gun pellet surgically removed after he was allegedly shot in the back by a group of teens.

An explosion at a Hawke's Bay school was caused by a parent using a portable gas cooker incorrectly to cook homemade meat patties.

Education officials have contacted Mayfair School after a gas canister exploded and injured a parent on the school grounds.

A gas cooker has exploded at a Hawkes Bay school, injuring one person, emergency services say.

Hastings police are still seeking information to help them solve an attack in which a female fast-food worker was punched and held at knifepoint on Thursday.

A dangerous prisoner who bit his partner badly on the cheek and was granted bail to attend his son's funeral has disappeared.

Hawkes Bay Mongrel Mob member Sio Muliipu has been sentenced to 13 years in prison for an attack on his girlfriend that cost her an eye.

The Christchurch family of a man fatally stabbed in Hastings rushed to be by his side before the end, but were too late to say goodbye.

A 22-year-old man who died in hospital after being stabbed at a Hastings party house is believed to have become engaged on Friday to his alleged attacker.