A Taharoa teenager killed after the quad bike she was on crashed, also seriously injuring her passenger, was a safe driver, locals say.

John Funnell was the search-and-rescue pilot who has saved the lives of thousands of victims, clocking up a staggering 19,000 hours of flight time.

A 20-year-old woman has suffered suspected spinal injuries after her car went off the road near Taupo according to a Greenlea Rescue

The death of cricket umpire Peter Plumley-Walker in a bondage session gone wrong in 1989 may be the subject of a documentary.

HARD-WORKING AND GENEROUS: Taupo couple Ian and Mary Smith, who died last Friday, are being remembered for making a significant contribution

Not just a winter destination; there's plenty to do in Taupo all year round. Here's our pick of some the best.

Source: YouTube: 100% Pure New Zealand. Master carver Matahi Whakataka-Brightwell shares the story behind New Zealand's remarkable Mine Bay Māori Rock Carvings.

Taupo mayor David Trewavas has been returned to the top job with over a 5500 vote margin at the progress stage.

Breath-taking thrills and spills and awe-inspiring sights are on offer in the tourist mecca, writes Morgan Tait.

Whether to accommodate out-of-towners or for residents struggling to find a house to put over their heads, the need for houses is strong in Taupo.

A Taupo couple are considering building and selling "tiny houses" for a living after their 'awesome' tiny house experience.

An employee is "shattered" after being confronted by three masked men armed with knives and a sawn-off shotgun at the Lucky Lizard

A truck crash near Taupo is partially blocking the road.

All 15,000 tickets for next year's Taupo Summer Concert have sold out in record time. It's part of the nationwide Summer Concert

Emergency services were called to a street in the centre of Taupo after reports of an explosion.

An Australian father and son have been rescued off Mt Tongariro after taking a wrong turn. A statement from police said the 49-year-old

Sometimes you just throw a bag in the boot, reverse down the driveway. Nothin' more than a couple of hundred clicks of open road ahead. Ewan McDonald did.

A 3.7 magnitude earthquake struck near Taupo 8.27am.

A French woman is lucky to be alive after she narrowly avoided sliding down a cliff in icy conditions on the Central Plateau.

A truck is on fire south of Taupo causing State Highway 1 to close.

It looks like a winter wonderland - unless you're a farmer who has lost stock and fences, say Hawke's Bay locals struggling after the area's worst snow storm in more than half a century.

A 21-year-old Hamilton man charged with criminal nuisance after crashing into a power pole in Taupo will be back in court next week.

A man has been charged with criminal nuisance after crashing into a power pole causing an outage that led to the death of a woman on a ventilator in January.

Snow showers are expected on the Desert and Napier-Taupo roads tomorrow. MetService said 1-3cm could settle around the Desert Rd

An emotionally charged sentencing at Taupo District Court this afternoon has ended with home detention for an 18-year-old charged with dangerous driving causing death.

The body of missing man Alan Pritchard has been found near his Taupo property, on the fourth day of a search for him.

Two teenage brothers killed in a car crash last weekend were "blessed with generous, caring and loving hearts", their mother says.

Police are concerned for the safety of a 78-year-old Taupo Alzheimers sufferer who has not been seen since putting his rubbish bin out three days ago.

Court documents reveal criminal histories and rocky relationship before pair killed Moko.

Two teenage brothers killed in a central North Island crash have been remembered as loveable boys who wore their hearts on their sleeves.