A Waikato man says he can still hear a mother's "blood-curdling screams" as she arrived to the scene of a horrific crash which left her children fighting for their lives.

Police are looking for an armed man who robbed a Ngaruawahia dairy today.

Both the holiday road toll and last year's entire toll are the worst they've been in years.

Bay of Islands the place to be for summer sun today

As most Kiwis were partying to see the new year in, others were being born.

Two young boys and a teenager are in a critical condition after a collision between a car and a campervan on Morrinsville-Tahuna Rd in Waikato.

A spectacular fireworks display off Auckland's Sky Tower and parties around the country herald the start of a new year.

Police are continuing their search along the river bank of the Waikato River with a focus on the camp site confirmed as belonging

Missing yachtie likely to be sailing his tiny catamaran to Australia, where he has disappeared with his 6-year-old daughter Que previously, according to an expert.

Police have concerns for Alan Langdon, 49, and his daughter Que who left Kawhia Harbour in the Waikato bound for Bay of Islands on December 17.

Three people nearly drowned at a Raglan beach this evening.

A person suffered head injuries after coming off their bike on a mountain biking track in the central North Island today.

Water sampling has failed to reveal what killed hundreds of crayfish in Waikato.

The inhabitants of a house that caught fire today escaped without injury.

Workmate applies tourniquet to man's injured hand.

A weak cold front will bring cloud, drizzle and showers to the country over the next few days but should clear in time for New Year celebrations.

The community is rallying to help the family of the little girl who was run over in Te Kauwhata on Boxing Day.

One person has died and another two been badly injured in separate crashes as holiday traffic queues across the North Island.

Occupants in a Morrinsville house managed to flee before their house burned down this afternoon.

Firefighters spent more than an hour battling five small blazes in Taupo which they suspect were deliberately lit.

The disappearance of a father and daughter who set sail in a small catamaran 10 days ago is "very upsetting" for the family's local community.

Police are concerned for the welfare of a 49-year-old man and his daughter who left Kawhia Harbour on a catamaran nine days ago and haven't been seen since.

A 2-year-old girl has died after being hit by a car in a driveway in Te Kauwhata, Waikato.

A woman was playing in the hot pools at De Bretts Hot Springs near Taupo when she collapsed.

Don't let the morning cloud fool you - it is set to be a fine Boxing Day for New Zealanders, with Central Otago tipped as the best place to be.

What will start out as a cloudy morning for most of the country should clear as the Christmas day wears on, but the odd shower is in store too.

The pair met on the netball court - although she doesn't remember.

The best spots for enjoying a Christmas hamper outdoors will be in the Bay of Plenty, Nelson and Central Otago tomorrow.

Wet weather today will clear throughout the country making way for a mainly fine Christmas weekend.

A farmer accused of growing cannabis told the High Court a scrap metal dealer he called ''Santa Claus'' was responsible for some of the unexplained money he had.