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.

A bar owner reportedly doused in petrol before he escaped his burning hotel had previous run-ins with gang members, locals say.

A hotelier who was doused with petrol during a robbery was lucky to escape with his life as the building was gutted by fire.

A man was doused in petrol but managed to crawl to safety as his hotel burned to the ground after a robbery this morning.

Police have identified the three young people killed in a horror collision between their car and a bus on Saturday, leaving two others with serious injuries.

A quick-thinking hero who pulled a driver from a fiery crash which claimed the lives of two people, including a baby, said the man stank of alcohol and didn't know what day it was.

A man has died after being crushed in a wood-pulp rolling machine at the Carter Holt Harvey Tasman Mill in Kawerau.

Winston Peters is back with all guns blazing today in a speech slamming immigration, foreign ownership and the Government.

An animal control officer severely beaten while seizing an unregistered dog says he can never return to his job.