With all sorts of gems, Ohakune takes the carrot, writes Elisabeth Easther.

Paul Charman on the joys of a weekend driving around the Central Plateau.

Ride golf carts, horses or canoes to explore this wonderful area ... or get going on foot.

Rachel Grunwell offers tips on how to survive taking the kids on a ski holiday.

A man who died in Ohakune after a fall early on Saturday was a member of the Navy and a keen rugby player.

A man has died in Ohakune early this morning after it appears he jumped over a deer fence which had an 8 metre drop on the other side.

One person has died following a house fire in Rangataua near Ohakune early this morning.

Police are investigating the unexplained death of a nine-year-old boy at his home at Raetihi, north of Wanganui, today.

A ramble through forest near Ohakune is a pleasant diversion for the whole family, finds Libby Nicholson-Moon.

This 317km mountainbiking link extends from the Central North Island to the Whanganui River Road and is one of the 18 New Zealand cycle trails which will eventually extend 2000km throughout the country.

Andrew Alderson loses some desk-jockey flab while trying out a new cycle trail.

You're never too old to enjoy your first outing on a pair of skis, discovers Andy Kenworthy during a weekend on Mt Ruapehu.

Another 80 job losses announced today in a third sawmill unable to profitably export timber suggests the wood industry is in crisis, says a union representing workers in the sector.

Two occupants of a plane which crashed near Ohakune this morning have survived unscathed.