Police are "astonished and disappointed" a 14-year-old boy has been caught drink-driving in Masterton.

A man with a machete last night tried to rob a liquor store in the Waikato but a staff member grabbed the weapon.

Hamilton children have been caught trying to sell electronic equipment they had stolen in a house burglary on Facebook.

A woman will spend the next 15 years paying back more than $30,000 she stole while working for a taxpayer-funded agency.

A person killed after being hit by a train near Palmerston North went unnoticed for two hours.

A father of two young children who was killed in a car crash will miss out on seeing his daughter and son grow up.

An Auckland man charged by the Serious Fraud Office of trying to bribe an Auckland Council employee has been found not guilty.

People leaving Auckland for Christmas face the usual commuter delays this afternoon, while those heading out of Wellington should allow extra time.

A former manager of a Waikato school has admitted defrauding it of nearly $800,000.

As Santa heads to Auckland soon, here's wishing he stops off in Sweden and picks up 40,000 "affordable" Boklok homes from Ikea, writes Brian Rudman.

Last year Alofa Glas, Jason Goodall and their extended whanau organised a free lunch at Pukekohe's Lone Star for 100 guests.

Boutique theatre company's opening Kiwi musical Daffodils is to be made into a movie

The Te Ara Rangatu o te Iwi o Ngati Te Ata Waiohua Inc Society will receive $10,000 from Auckland Airport's 12 Days of Christmas campaign this year.

A Napier man has been sentenced after admitting to give charges of trading in endangered species.

A farmer had her quad bike rammed out of the way by offenders trying to make their escape.

Bernard Hickey: This has been a big year for the NZ economy, ranging from an extended slump for the dairy payout to a big boom for tourism and Auckland house prices.

The boy who fell through the skylight of a school in Palmerston North on Friday night is in a stable condition in hospital.

The Supporters of Tiritiri Matangi Inc is working to give as many kids as possible the chance to learn about animals in their natural habitats

A large group of about 30 armed offenders squad members are reported to have gathered near the Waihi hospital.

Allan Galbraith, an ex-detective who played a key role in cracking the Rainbow Warrior case, and his wife were deeply moved by the help they received following a serious crash.

A two-year-old run over by a van in Flaxmere yesterday remains in a serious but stable condition.

A man suffering from severe hypothermia has been rescued off the Northland coast after his yacht foundered on rocks and started sinking.

Napier residents jumped at the opportunity of a free feed yesterday after hundreds of dead fish spewed into the marina when a fisherman lost his day's catch.

A major blaze which came within metres of destroying a home, forced the evacuation of at least a dozen Northland properties, and closed a state highway for several hours.

Four people were arrested at Christmas in the Park in Auckland last night.

Simply by raising the idea of commemorating the wars annually, at least one New Zealander - me - studied up on what the wars were about, Heather writes.

Corrections is investigating claims against inmates giving sexual favors and a Correction's employee handing over $14k a month for marijuana.

A car was mangled beyond all recognition after it was wedged beneath a truck in a horrific central Taupo crash, claiming three lives.

Auckland is on the brink of "explosion" in red-eared slider turtles. A pest regarded as one of the world's 100 most-invasive species.

In a raging property market, it's possible to have a million-dollar home and no cash, writes Joanna Mathers.