Ronan Keating is heading our way next month but for now he's still dealing with the shock death of his Boyzone pal.

Police are hunting for a heavily tattooed man who allegedly pointed a gun at a woman in central Napier yesterday.

A vigorous front which has hammered the lower South Island with high winds and rain will attack central parts of the country today.

A 61-year-old church minister was killed on Christmas Eve when two 4WD vehicles collided and rolled in Napier.

If you're heading to new territories these holidays, check out the cellar doors of the local vineyards.

A Hastings primary school teacher facing 14 charges of assaulting pupils has been remanded for trial.

It's only four days until Christmas and I'm toasting Villa Maria winery.

A couple who slept through a burglary wondered why their two english bulldogs didn't bark, then discovered the dogs had been stolen too.

Blood, fat and discarded pieces of butchered animals were spread 15km on SH2 after a tailgate opened on a truck.

Timaru's Caroline Bay Carnival runs December 26 to January 10.

Police say a gunshot was reported in Hastings about midday today.