In a dark basement below the main stage of Kawerau's town hall, a bunch of teenagers are on punching bags.

Another 80 job losses announced today in a third sawmill unable to profitably export timber suggests the wood industry is in crisis, says a union representing workers in the sector.

More than 50 sawmill workers at two North Island sawmills have been told they will lose their jobs.

The mother of a murdered Bay of Plenty teenager said today she was unable to describe how she felt about her son's "brutal, absolutely senseless death". A Mongrel Mob member ran down Jordan Herewini in Murupara last year.

Thirty staff at Carter Holt Harvey Woodproducts Kawerau Sawmill are losing their jobs.

Three children critically hurt in a crash in Kawerau today were not wearing seat belts, police say.

Dita De Boni on how the welfare reforms might impact solo parents.

A growing number of unemployed couples are living apart so one can claim the domestic purposes benefit to get more money, say beneficiary advocates.