Latest fromThames

Man arrested after driving van into Winz office
The building had been placed in lockdown just before the man drove the van into it.

500 jobs on the line as forestry firm tipped into receivership
Receivers are looking to sell the business to keep it running.

Tens of thousands of dollars spent on briefing this term's councillors
Five Waikato councils whisk councillors away to retreats to brush up on council business.

Snorewa? Heavy hailstorm tricks Auckland locals
Heavy thunderstorms with epic hail hit Auckland's eastern coast, Thames and Coromandel.

Rugby: Meads and Lochore Cup finalists found in Heartland Championship
North Otago and Wanganui will battle for the ultimate prize of the Meads Cup.

Inquest opens into fatal police shooting
Man covered his body in mud, pointed gun at cars and said he wanted to be shot by police.

Rugby: Heartland Championship sorts out final Meads and Lochore Cup placings with exciting matches
Some old favourites return to prominence, while others wonder what might have been.

Twenty car break-ins over two nights, police warn
Don't leave valuables in your car and park in well-lit areas if possible.

Teen who showed classmates mosque shooting video discharged without conviction
The teen also had a copy of the accused gunman's manifesto.

Heartland rugby: Week 4 sees big changes on points ladder
Robbie Smith the hero for North Otago with fulltime penalty kick maintaining unbeaten tag

Fat Freddy's Drop announce summer tour
The NZ Summer Record tour features a stacked line-up.

Heartland comeback thrillers by unbeaten West Coast and North Otago
Teams welcome back their NZ Heartland XV players for games going right down to the wire.

Subbies 'owed millions' in Stanley, Tallwood collapse
Some sub-contractors hadn't been paid "for months".

Rugby: Manu Samoa pull away to beat NZ Heartland XV
Rugby World Cup squad with some Super Rugby regulars is too strong for the amateurs.

Rugby: West Coast on top of Heartland Championship
Only West Coast and North Otago still unbeaten after two games.

Heartland Championship kicks off
First round of games honours memory of All Black and Heartland legend Sir Brian Lochore

Teen, 17, admits possessing mosque attack video
The teenager's lawyer is seeking permanent name suppression.

Hauraki Gulf: How to save our big blue backyard
"When we stop putting ourselves above the environment, we will get change."

Forced NCEA externals 'a giant step back'
Liberal schools see NCEA change as "step backwards", but Auckland Grammar is happy.

Warning after massive oil spill in Coromandel
Motorists have been warned to "exercise extreme caution" after large oil spill.

Tricky rescue after 3m Pinnacles plunge
Search and rescue and police were unable to extract the man due to the unstable terrain.

Boy 'gobsmacked' at being left behind by InterCity bus, says passenger
The boy was from Papamoa and although calm, told passengers karma would get the driver.

Six hurt in multi-car crash
Police have warned that State Highway 25A is blocked after a multi-car crash.

Local Focus: Thames residents push Council to do more on climate change
Locals of the low-lying town motivated to make change. Made with funding from NZ On Air.

Rising seas and weather events: Thames still to sign climate change declaration
Locals of the low-lying town motivated to make change. Made with funding from NZ On Air.

Get out the sunscreen, it's sunshine for all
Thames, Alexandra and Wanaka are all expected to get to 28C today.

Fireworks' long history in New Zealand
Fine for unlawfully letting off fireworks in public places introduced in 1850

18 people treated after chlorine spillage at school
Five crews were in attendance and have cordoned off an area to make it safe.

Guns, drugs, cash, ammo seized in Thames police raid
Priceless 100-year-old artefacts were also recovered after being stolen last month.