Police have charged a 22-year-old Northland man with the murder of Lee Rata as they continue to investigate whether others were involved in the fatal attack.

A disabled Gisborne man has been arrested after allegedly deliberately driving into a marae, before attacking a passer by's car and threatening to set himself alight at a petrol station.

A yachtie is helpless to stop opportunist thieves helping themselves to prized possession on board his stricken yacht - 11 days after it ran aground.

An 18-year-old Aucklander who loved sport and kapa haka is the youngest victim of the holiday road toll.

An investigation has been launched into racist comments and allegations of sexual assault at a New Year's Eve beach party in Mount Maunganui.

Firefighters had to rescue an elderly driver after her car crashed through a fence at Auckland shopping mall.

Police say it is unclear how an Auckland man died during a canyoning trip deep in the Coromandel bush.

The woman who survived a horror plunge down an Auckland cliff face along a popular scenic drive suffered broken bones, it has been revealed.

Travellers are being being advised to allow half an hour extra for their journey through Auckland International Airport and customs.

The four sought-after suburbs have robust transport links, well-planned infrastructure and attractive entertainment hubs.

Police were unsure how the diver got into trouble, but confirmed he was in a serious condition.

The victim of a brutal New Year's Eve assault, who died in Whangarei Hospital yesterday, was Kaitaia man Lee Rata.

Kelly Lynch soaks up the old-world feeling in Waipu's ancient caves.

A woman confronted and scared off two burglars who broke into her house.

The single-car crash happened on State Highway 35, near Tologa Bay.

Patricia Greig has a fairy tale stay at a luxury country house near Tauranga.

Two people rushed to hospital from an Auckland brothel this morning are believed to have ingested the drug GHB, police say.

Police are investigating an assault which happened in the early hours of Tuesday in Whangamata.

Creatures died after becoming entangled in set-net.

Emergency services are at the scene on the Northern Motorway and the Waitemata Serious Crash Unit has arrived.

Wellington City Council posted a picture of the smashed Moai sculpture on its Facebook page.

Bronze whaler caused concern at Coromandel's Whiritoa Beach.

Firefighters turned Animal Rescue crew when they were called out to free a cat stuck in a washing machine.

Emergency services in Whangarei last night controlled a large scrub fire that threatened properties in a coastal community.

Thieves have stolen from lifeguards in the Far North while they were out to help a kayaker who was struggling in the water.

Police are seeking a man who held up a Waikato bar with a cut down shotgun.

A large scrub fire in the Northland seaside settlement of Tutukaka has officially been brought under control after initially threatening homes.

A cyclist has been seriously injured after falling down a 10m bank from his bicycle in Taupo today.

A teenager is in a serious but stable condition after her car was hit by a ute and spun into a station wagon near Paihia yesterday.

A man who dislocated his hip on Mt Ruapehu this morning was flown to hospital.