A coroner has called for the Government to immediately investigate making the wearing of helmets compulsory and tightening other safety regulations.

Firefighters have contained a large scrub fire in Masterton which was burning on about six hectares of land.

One of the winners of New Zealand's largest ever lottery prize has died.

A former Marist teaching brother was today found guilty of 11 historic sex offences by a jury in the High Court at Wellington.

Minor damage was reported in Masterton and near Otaki after a 5.4-magnitude earthquake this afternoon.

A desperate mother is begging for help to punish her 11-year-old son, who has admitted ransacking graves and starting a fire in a $300,000 spree of destruction with a mate.

Two boys embarked on a weekend vandalism spree, ransacking a cemetery and destroying property - but are likely to escape with a warning.

Lotto Powerball has jackpotted to $27 million - potentially the biggest individual prize in New Zealand Lotteries' history.