The brother of Arthur Allan Thomas says he is angry about a eulogy that seemingly absolved the officer who planted evidence in the Crewe murder case.

Neighbours heard a large bang when a Tokoroa house went up in flames, killing one person and leaving another man fighting for his life in Waikato Hospital.

One person is dead and another is fighting for their life after a house fire in Tokoroa this evening.

A rare media appearance by Crewe murder accused Arthur Allan Thomas tomorrow will address the death of the officer who planted evidence that wrongly convicted him.

Lifeguards were supposed to finish up on Northland's patrolled surf beaches yesterday, but the long summer has seen Ruakaka volunteers staying on for next weekend as well.

Lifeguards are frustrated at the lack of preparedness shown by 10 Korean fishermen who needed rescuing from a precarious position on a rock in Port Waikato.

A family is delighted to be reunited with their beloved billy goat after being tipped off to his whereabouts by a person who claims to have psychic powers.

A spate of quad bike thefts in Waikato has come earlier than expected this year.

When the Waikato comes to mind, visions of cow-crammed paddocks tend to crush the notion that this is a worldly part of the country. But, if you take the time to explore the region, you’ll discover there’s more to it than just dairy.

A 22-year-old man was killed when a gun went off after a drinking session in the Waikato town Ngaruawahia overnight.

A fully equipped motorhome has replaced a canvas tent in Sarah Lawrence's holiday affections

Mighty River Power has rejected a request to top up the "extremely low" Waikato River and people are being warned that a rain forecast will not be a "silver bullet".

Most of the North Island could be declared a drought zone by the end of the week, but Prime Minister John Key says the impact on the Government's books remains to be seen.

Waikato dairy farmer Peter Brown rates his anxiety levels "about a 7.5" out of 10 as he endures his second drought in just five years.

A climate expert believes summers like this one will become the new norm for New Zealand. Droughts have already been declared across much of the North Island.

Firefighters are battling a scrub fire in a remote part of rural Waikato this morning.

A shortage of water across the Wellington region means there is now a ban on garden sprinklers and irrigation systems.

Big dry forces stock selloffs, but Aucklanders can still water gardens, wash cars thanks to Waikato River supplies

A tropical cyclone and three other heavy rain patterns are due to position themselves above NZ this weekend, but it is unlikely they will bring much-needed rain.

Droughts have been declared in South Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Hawkes Bay regions, a week after drought was declared in Northland.

A drought is expected to be declared in the Waikato this week after brief showers did little to help parched farms, and the Hawkes Bay is expected to follow suit.

The big dry has parts of the country firmly in its grip. The Government has declared a drought in Northland and is expected to do so in Waikato.

The Inland Revenue Department has announced help for drought-hit Northland farmers.

The Government has officially declared a state of drought in Northland and authorities are expected to do the same in the Waikato today.

A woman was killed on a Waikato farm yesterday when the vehicle she was driving rolled down a bank.