Rescued moreporks and two-headed lambs - our furry friends made headlines in the past year for good, bad and downright odd reasons.

This year in books and music, on stage and social media, women have put feminism top of the cultural agenda, says Alice Vincent.

With 2015 just hours away there are plenty of options for those still undecided on how to celebrate the New Year.

Speculation is rife that Sally Ridge has married her partner Warren Fenning in a small family ceremony at a Tauranga boutique B&B owned by Ridge's mum.

People generally take a jaundiced view of politicians being recognised in the New Year Honours.

Nick Ferrier's residence was a good candidate to feature on My House, My Castle - not least because of this castle's three turrets.

Looking back on 2014 New Zealand's historians will see an unremarkable election. The economy was booming, the Government stable, the Prime Minister popular and opinion polls giving his party every prospect of a comfortable re-election.

Stalwart Labour MP Trevor Mallard married journalist Jane Clifton in an intimate and sunny ceremony in Wellington yesterday.

Tattoo you: Well known Kiwis show off their ink. Pua Magasiva and KJ Apa, Shortland St stars. Their on-screen characters on Shortland Street do not have much to do with each other.

A hippopotamus was left lying injured on the side of the road for hours after making a panicked jump from a truck in Taiwan.

Sports fans know about the phenomenal exploits of Brendon McCullum, Lydia Ko and the All Blacks this year. Michael Burgess looks back at 10 other feel-good sports stories that captured the imagination in 2014.

I had a spring in my step all throughout 2014 as the writer of these so-called secret diaries, with their made-up chronicles of the most wretched newsmaker of the week.

Cadbury Roses are a Kiwi staple at Christmas - but what are you really getting when you open the box? Wendyl Nissen puts the chocs to the test.

The Inspector Morse stories taught me that men are intelligent and sensitive and don't just want to hump everything that breathes.

2014 served up more than its fair share of major entertainment stories. From tragic deaths to celebrity scandals, the entertainment industry often dominated the headlines.

British actress Helena Bonham Carter and Alice in Wonderland director Tim Burton have separated after 13 years together.

Chow Chow dogs, painted and dyed to look like panda bears, have been seized from an Italian circus.

Bill Gates participated in the annual Reddit Secret Santa gift exchange and gifted the lucky recipient a replica Loki helmet from Marvel's Thor franchise.

The Marsden Cross is known to most of us only as a photograph. It is on a remote northern shore in the Bay of Islands, not as accessible as Waitangi or Russell.

There are aliens living amongst us, not little green men but foreign animal species from ecosystems far away, writes Sally Hibbard.

Adele sent a hand-written note to Sir Elton John to apologise for missing his wedding.

Wayne Smith is likely to stay in New Zealand rugby beyond 2015, despite signing a one-year World Cup deal with the All Blacks.

She took home the crown last year, and Sian Roosenbrand will be back to compete in this year's premium fashion event on the racing calendar.

Reading an iPad or a Kindle before bed instead of a printed book can cause sleep deprivation and increase the risk of cancer, scientists say.

It was the first time in 40 years Andrew Welch had not been home for Christmas, his brother Jeremy recalls.

All Black star Dan Carter, 32, and his wife Honor, a former Black Sticks player, are expecting another baby.

TimeOut presents the best in movies, games, TV and albums for 2014.

Elton John officially tied the knot with his partner at their estate in Windsor in south east England, on the ninth anniversary of their civil partnership.