A man has been charged with the murder of a 23-year-old woman shot at her home in Otaki Beach yesterday.

Darren Hughes once admitted regret that he never did his big OE. He might just have time for it now, following his resignation as a Labour MP.

A seven-year-old girl who went missing in Palmerston North last night has been found safe and well, police say.

Minor damage was reported in Masterton and near Otaki after a 5.4-magnitude earthquake this afternoon.

A real estate agent must pay $1500 and undergo ethics training after replacing a private 'for sale' sign with one of his own.

A woman has died after being hit by a suspected drink-driver when she and a friend stopped for a roadside picnic yesterday.

A drink-driver lost control and hit two women who had stopped for a roadside picnic yesterday morning. Witnesses said the car's skid marks measured more than 100m.

The grieving widow of the victim of an alleged drink-driver has lashed out at the law that allowed the accused back behind the wheel.

This is the 70-year-old grandmother accused of drink-driving and killing a new dad.

A small community is reeling from the death of a popular teacher and new father mown down by a 70-year-old allegedly "blotto" from drink.