Two children have been treated for smoke inhalation following a house fire near Rotorua this morning.

The death of a motorcyclist this afternoon has brought the long weekend road toll to three in just 24 hours.

Police said the crash happened after they received numerous calls about racers in the early hours of this morning.

Another person has died on the roads this holiday weekend already following a serious crash on State Highway 3 near Te Kuiti.

In the last three months, offenders committed six ram-raid burglaries at commercial premises which sold high-end electrical equipment.

Roadworks on the Brynderwyn Hills are already $3 million over budget, Northland MP Winston Peters says, claiming the blowout will rise and put at risk other vital roading projects.

A woman was busted selling methamphetamine to an undercover police officer while she was breastfeeding her young baby as part of a nationwide drug sting.

A crash on the Southern Motorway blocked the right lane to the city after Mount Wellington at 6.15 this morning.

What began as an effort to live a healthier lifestyle led to a dangerous condition for this young woman.

When a thief struck in Napier, he took the one thing owner Zan Lee had installed to prevent things being taken.

Warning - contains offensive language: A Whangarei police constable racially abused a Maori man several times before his arrest for assaulting police, a jury has heard.

The Hawke's Bay SPCA is trying to find a Napier cat-hater who seems to be illegally using traps to catch people's pets.

A Hastings couple have been remanded on bail for sentence on multiple burglary charges after a series of raids on the homes of the woman's parents and one of her neighbours.

A furniture truck tipped on its side in Puketapu, west of Napier, destroying a steel barrier and fence.

Average value of an Auckland property rose to $955,793 in the past three months - but rate of increase lagged behind rest of New Zealand.

Police found a man and women in a car, with apparently recently made methamphetamine later estimated to have a street value of $70,000.

She was described as a happy, healthy child - then bruises began to appear on the then 17-month-old's face and head.

Former president of Wanganui Federated Farmers says dairy farming is responsible for 80 per cent of the degradation of New Zealand waterways.

A Hastings retiree illegally selling meat to cover the cost of his hunting trips has been netted by an undercover seafood operation.

The grieving mother of a Kiwi who was found dead in an Australian river is taking small comfort in the thought she may soon see her son again.

Portaloos will be reinstated on the summit of Auckland's Mt Eden after two men were caught defecating in the bush within metres of the footpath.

State house tenant with two disabled adult children will be able to stay in her house after Work and Income paid her rent arrears this morning.

Auckland police are keen to hear from a pregnant woman seen in the vicinity of an aggravated robbery of a service station.

EXCLUSIVE: The parents of a New Zealander grabbed by a crocodile in Australia have spoken of their pain as authorities continue to search for the missing woman.

More than 100 Hawke's Bay young offenders will be given the chance to gain their driver's licences and improve their employment opportunities.

A woman posted CCTV images of an alleged burglar she says crept around her house and stole several pairs of shoes.

Police are seeking witnesses to a car accident on Portal St, Whanganui, this morning.

Kathryn Ryan says she asked to stay longer in the maternity unit because she had suffered post-natal depression in the past and had concerns about breastfeeding.