There's fresh blood oozing with talent in New Zealand's wine industry. Rebecca Gibb picks the ones to watch this year.

Hawkes Bay is famous for several things, including wine and great weather, but now we can add beer to the list.

Roads and vehicles must be "more forgiving" to curb a road toll which averages more than one death a day, the AA says. Figures released by the Ministry of Transport today show 371 people died on the roads over the past year.

There are many world-class wineries on our doorstep.

The holiday road toll has risen to six after a fatal crash on the Napier-Taupo highway this afternoon.

A man's ear had to be re-attached after a drunken fight in Hastings last night.

A 13-year-old boy was driving the Toyota Hilux that crashed in Hawkes Bay yesterday killing a 17-year-old woman, say police.

Eight of 12 people injured in a Hawkes Bay crash yesterday remain in hospital, while a 17-year-old killed earlier in the day has been named.

A multi-vehicle pile up in Hawkes Bay has put 10 people in hospital, three with critical injuries, say police. Two tourists, one German and one Italian, are among those injured.

The official holiday road death toll has risen to three after a 17-year-old was killed in a Hawkes Bay crash.

This is the face of the latest New Zealand child to die as a result of alleged abuse. Five-year-old Sahara Jayde Baker-Koro was found dead in her bed in Napier early on Tuesday.

A man has been remanded in custody after he appeared in court charged with assault over the death of a girl, 5, in Napier.

Power has been restored to Napier after a felled tree shortcircuited a cable supplying electricity to more than 21,000 people.