Closure of the Kapiti rail line has exacerbated holiday traffic along the Kapiti Coast as would-be train passengers have been forced to travel by bus on congested roads.

Thousands have reported feeling the "severe" 5.5 magnitude quake which rattled central New Zealand this afternoon.

Traffic delays north of Wellington are becoming a daily occurrence as capital residents head away for New Year.

Feel dogged by news of the Kardashians this year? We've got another one for you.

Road toll now equal to last summer's following death of motorcyclist.

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.

Four fire crews are battling a blaze in the Lower Hutt suburb of Stokes Valley.

Demolition of the Reading Cinema carpark building will begin next week.

Give yourselves up, heartbroken family pleads of killers of "cherished, kind" niece and daughter.

A man has been airlifted to Wellington Hospital after a violent Christmas fight between a father and son.

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

Steve Braunias looks back on a year of thinking dangerously.

Quake-affected businesses in Wellington and Hurunui have been given a boost with the announcement that support subsidies will be extended.

Being in charge of the population of a small town is "a dream come true".

A crash that closed the Terrace Tunnel in Wellington has been cleared and the tunnel has re-opened, NZTA Wellington said.

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

Father and daughter bears Sean and Sasa tucked into their usual meal at Wellington Zoo today, but with a Christmas twist. The sun

KiwiRail has announced it will replace its electric train fleet on the North Island main trunk line with diesel locomotives.

What will the weather be doing on Sunday for Christmas?

The Porirua community is rallying around their local Santa after his sack was stolen just weeks before Christmas.

There was a record downpour in Auckland, a tornado in Taranaki and "quake lights" above Wellington. Oh, and 2016 was likely also New Zealand's hottest year on record.

Nobody has been hurt in a gas explosion in a Wellington suburb.

A bad weather forecast has scuppered the historic Dunedin visit of mega-cruise ship the Ovation of the Seas on Thursday.

Geonet say there is a 98 per cent chance of an aftershock of 6 to 6.9 magnitude in the next year.

If variety is the spice of life, this week is set to be a lively one.

Lois Tolley's aunt always looked forward to her niece stopping by to give her a hug and natter about the world's problems. Those visits are memories now.

Dozens of people went topless to beaches in Auckland and Wellington yesterday.

Woman whose odd auction on TradeMe reaped $6500, will fly to Miami to have the artwork done - and we reveal what the tattoo will say.

How does it feel to share your birthday with Jesus Christ? Herald reporter Tess Nichol finds out in our Holiday Babies series.