An Auckland mother is outraged that her daughter was 'ripped off' by an accident and medical clinic.

Don't like surcharges? Vote with your feet, says Restaurant Association chief executive Steve Mackenzie.

Customers claim businesses are being greedy in adding surcharges on days not officially holidays.

Beaches around the country were packed yesterday as temperatures soared.

Auckland diners want clearer rules over when the holiday surcharge should apply after some were slapped with the extra cost on their bills yesterday.

A motorcyclist was killed yesterday on the Coromandel Peninsula and a motorist died in Marlborough last night, taking the holiday road toll to 11.

Listen out for the sound of waves crashing on the shoreline and birdsong in the trees - not the ringtone of your company phone.

Most of us are just plain worn out, yet we long to create and achieve the kind of holiday time sold to us by the media.

A popular beach was blasted by rain and blustery winds yesterday, causing some campers to cut short their holidays and leave.

Your Christmas stories through comments from Twitter, Facebook and beyond.

New Zealand is set for a humid summer, with experts predicting a warm and wet January and February.

Staff at the Auckland City Mission have been rushed off their feet and will be cooking Christmas dinner for more than 2000 people tomorrow.

Holidaymakers joining the Christmas exodus from Auckland are being encouraged to check road and traffic conditions before leaving home, to improve chances of safe and relatively hassle-free trips.

A selection of Christmas church services in the main centres.

International visitors to New Zealand have increased in the past year, but Kiwis are opting to travel abroad for their holidays.

What do some of our friends in fashion, design and food have planned for their Christmas break?

Forecasters are predicting we'll be using our brollies for sunshades by Christmas Day.