NZ adventurer to attempt never-before-tried trip - rowing from Singapore to Darwin, cycling across Australia, rowing to New Plymouth and then a 40km cycle to Stratford.

Eltham teddy bear involved in international kidnapping case. Made with funding from NZ On Air.

A group of children from a South Taranaki primary school are appealing to the Pope to intervene in an international kidnapping case involving a very special bear.

With the progress results now in, representing an approximate 95 per cent of all votes received, all incumbant councillors at Stratford District Council have retained their seats.

Michelle Kennard was raring to vote in Taranaki elections - unfortunately she was sent information on Northland candidates.

A Jeep Cherokee with what appeared to be a new number plate was found by police at the Taupo home of a man with Mongrel Mob connections, a court has heard.

4.40pm: Albert Wall has taken the witness stand and is being questioned by Crown prosecutor Chris Macklin. Mr Wall was travelling

Farmer mystified when Jeep refused to pass his slow-moving tractor on approach to roadworks where George Taiaroa was shot.

At least 10 emergency services workers did not see a blue Jeep Cherokee when responding to the shooting of stop-go worker George Taiaroa

A 78-year-old man who died alone in his Wellington apartment was surrounded by family when lowered into his final resting place.

The father of Kiwi acting legend Jemaine Clement has spoken publicly for the first time about his "strong and loving" relationship with his son.

Police believe two motorcyclists involved in a head-on collision were patched Black Power members travelling in convoy to a Northland tangi.

An EnviroWaste worker is undergoing testing for HIV after being stabbed through protective gloves by a used needle while pulling items off a conveyor belt.

The employers of a Taranaki forestry worker who died after an 800kg log fell on him have been ordered to pay more than $97,000 in reparation to his widow.

WATCH: Police officers clash with protesters supporting two women accused of stealing oil survey equipment.

A Taranaki man has pleaded guilty to murdering his mother - despite claiming no recollection of the killing.

Police won't reveal the nature of the injuries which killed a Stratford woman on Friday, as a man is due to appear in court charged with her murder.

The victim of a homicide in Taranaki on Friday night has been named. She was Gwendoline Blake, aged 71.

Elisabeth Easther took a quirky rail trip and has been singing the little engines' praises ever since.

The death of 36-year-old Stephen John Murphy, whose body was found in the Patea River near Stratford earlier this week, is not suspicious, police said.

An 8-year-old girl lost her mother and was seriously injured when a freight train hit the family's ute, flinging it 20 metres.