The Pinnacles walk is the perfect way to introduce family and friends to the fun of tramping, writes Katie Furze.

A post-mortem examination will be undertaken today on the body of a man who died in a house fire in Tokoroa.

Police have defended a senior cop's praise of the late officer who planted a shell case at the Crewe murder scene, and insist the comments have no bearing on a review.

Arthur Allan Thomas has condemned a soon to be released police inquiry into the Crewe murders as a mockery and a "cover up".

The person who died in a house fire in Tokoroa last night has been confirmed as a man.

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.

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.

Waikato company Te Kauwhata Transport has gone into receivership.

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

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.

The drought is working its way down the country, and with with no change predicted until at least mid-March, farmers from Northland to Southland are suffering.

Two teenagers have been commended by police for their desperate efforts to save their friend after he failed to surface while swimming in the Waikato River.

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.