World War II's greatest escape, which involved Kiwi officers scaling barbed wire fences instead of the previously favoured method of tunnelling, has been told for the first time.

Scientists studying the DNA of Richard III, whose body was found buried beneath a Leicester car park, have revealed that there was marital infidelity among his descendants.

A 7.8ha coastal section owned by descendants of one of the original settler families of Mangawhai is on the market for the first time in 125 years.

Two military heroes - former spy Pippa Doyle and Willie Apiata - rubbed shoulders last night as France bestowed its highest honour on the 93-year-old Mrs Doyle.

She parachuted behind enemy lines, evading the Nazis to to spy on their troop movements. Now a quiet Aucklander is to receive France's highest honour.

Spend a moment with the ghosts of Little Bighorn, writes Ben Stanley.

An agent who evaded the Nazis to send coded messages to Britain is to be honoured by France. Andrew Stone writes about a modest war hero who lives quietly in Auckland.

A macabre international trade in severed heads intensified Maori inter-tribal warfare to such an extent it was feared they would be wiped out altogether, a new book claims.

Our small population means we've produced few world-renowned people warranting the ultimate tribute of a statue.

The South Island's Waitaki Valley is big country: a wide-open world of bare brown hills and huge rocks. Despite this inland setting, Otago University palaeontologist Ewan Fordyce likes to think of himself as snorkelling when he visits.

Given Auckland's chequered history in saving heritage buildings, best to keep the Lindauer on ice for the time being, writes Brian Rudman.

With the Labour leadership contest now in full swing, NZ On Screen Content Director Irene Gardiner looks back at some memorable screen appearances from past Labour leaders who left a big impression.

A cousin of Winston Churchill has died, leaving the son he once described as a "black sheep" to inherit one of Britain's most prestigious aristocratic titles.

A New Zealand woman accused of destroying a Buddha statue in Cambodia says she did it because it “didn’t belong in the temple”.

A New Zealand woman was reportedly taken into custody in Cambodia at the weekend for destroying a statue of Buddha at the ancient Angkor Wat temple complex.

Top Gear stars continued to use a car number plate for 10 days after being warned that furious Argentinians believed it was an offensive reference to the Falklands War.

A box containing an old train set - and what was believed to be a corroded mortar bomb - triggered a major police callout in central Dunedin.

Abandoned earthquake-damaged homes in Christchurch's residential red zone are being booby-trapped in a mystery that has so far baffled police.

Margot Woelk was one of 15 young women forced to work at Adolf Hitler's Wolf's Lair headquarters as a food taster.

The death of the founder of the band Snapper has prompted an outpouring on social media, and plaudits from local music industry figures.

Archaeologists in Denmark have found a ring-shaped Viking fortress on the island of Zealand, around 50km south of Copenhagen.

Weighing more than seven Tyrannosaurus rex, or a modern Boeing 737, and longer than a swimming pool, a newly discovered species of dinosaur would have "feared nothing" scientists say.

The last word Richard John Seddon uttered as he collapsed from a massive heart attack was "Mother!"

A century ago today, Kiwi soldiers arrived in German Samoa ready for battle. The Herald is live-streaming the national ceremony to mark the 100th anniversary.

Maori Party founder Tariana Turia and former Governor-General and National Party Prime Minister Sir Keith Holyoake feature prominently as political heroes.

The years have washed away the markings on Paddy Black’s grave at Waikumete Cemetery.