A brutal attack which left a south Auckland man brain dead and on life support was prolonged and ferocious, say police.

Life support is expected to be turned off for a man critically injured when he and a woman were attacked with a wooden club.

Terry Jenner feared the worst upon hearing of a suspicious fire in Papakura yesterday.

Fire safety officers are disturbed by what appears to be a growing trend in toddlers starting fires by playing with matches and lighters.

We're a nation of people who love our food and dining out — but do restaurateurs love us? Dionne Christian runs the rule over our eating habits.

We came here because we'd been hearing lots of good things about this new cafe at Mangere Bridge, owned by Viva's food writer, Amanda Laird.

The average winnings per person from Lotto and Big Wednesday contests for Buller's 9700 residents is $1184.96.

The family of young mother Jackie Allister is dumbfounded at her murder.

Authorities say a string of brazen and violent bank robberies in Auckland are probably linked, after a shotgun-wielding bank robber wished a terrified customer a Merry Christmas before taking off with about $100,000 cash.

Police were this afternoon continuing inquiries into events leading to the deaths of a man and a woman overnight after a reported domestic incident.

A 55-year-old woman had just beaten the cancer she had battled for 10 years when a teen, nearly five times over the youth drink driving limit, crossed the centre line and smashed into her car. He was jailed today.

The 13-year-old killed when he drove into a fence had been hidden by his family after running away from a caregiver.

Driver error may have resulted in the death of a 13-year-old driver in south Auckland this morning, say police.