A man has been arrested and charged in relation to the abduction of a young girl in Palmerston North last week.

A commercial truck driver was pulled over in Stratford, Taranaki, this morning at about 6.30am.

Waikato Police are investigating a crash in which a person died last night on State Highway 2 at Mangatarata.

If you've been wondering why you've been suddenly sleepless, ask the weather experts.

Reports of the attempted abduction of a boy in Palmerston North are incorrect, police say.

A 66-year-old man accused of stabbing two pensioners will remain behind bars while police check a bail address.

Police said the stabbing of two pensioners occurred after an argument escalated at the pensioner block.

A 17-year-old will appear in court next week in relation to the fire on Paritutu Rock in New Plymouth last Friday.

Drunk and medicated motorcyclist killed teenager Natalia Austin.

Firefighters battled a blaze at a student accommodation complex in central Wellington early this morning.

Police are scouring CCTV footage in an effort to identify a man who snatched a 5-year-old girl from a Palmerston North street.

The man who took a Palmerston North girl from the city's streets is likely lying low, shaking in his boots, says a top criminologist.

A 56-year-old woman who spent a traumatic 14 hours trapped inside a lift "drew pictures and wrote poems" to keep herself calm.

Parents are watching their children closely in Palmerston North this morning while the man who abducted a 5-year-old girl remains on the loose.

A 50-year-old woman who was assaulted in Hamilton earlier this week has died in hospital, sparking a homicide inquiry.

Three people have been pulled out of the water in Raglan, after their boat overturned on the bar.

A Northland woman was home alone when, at 2 o'clock this morning, she heard footsteps on her deck.

Police are looking for a good Samaritan named Kate who helped another woman in Wellington.

A Bay of Plenty hotel was held up at gunpoint, with an armed man threatening drinkers and making off with the night's takings.

Napier's mayor has defended the city's much-criticised $700,000 "pier to nowhere".

Families invented 12 children for booking so they could have hut all to themselves.

A year ago Kauri went missing from his home in suburban Panmure; last week, she turned up at Te Hapara School in Gisborne.

One man is dead and another is in custody following a suspected homicide just north of Whangarei tonight.

Neighbours have described the moment a search turned to tragedy when a 1-year-old boy was found drowned last night.

Man accused of faking qualifications has been denied bail after being caught allegedly trying to flee the country.

Jaden Lee Stroobant charged with murdering and sexually violating Cun Tian in her home.

Geoffroy de Saint Germain took a big breath and dived back under the water for a third time, knowing it would be his last shot to save a drowning man.