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

Three runners missing near Lake Rotoma since yesterday have been found this morning in the Rotoma Forest by a search and rescue team.

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.

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.