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.

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.

Wellington police are asking the public to help find a wanted man.

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.

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

Traffic has already slowed to a crawl in parts of the country as holidaymakers head out of town for Christmas.

A man has died from a heart attack while in Christmas traffic near Wellington.

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.

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.

A Wellington kitten had a close shave this morning after becoming trapped in rush-hour traffic.

A Wellington MyLotto player won $5million in Wednesday's Lotto Powerball after his friend joked about sending "good vibes out to the Lotto gods".

A stunning summer's day in Wellington has attracted some aquatic visitors to the coastline, with locals spotting orcas and dolphins.

Brittany Godderidge retrieved clothing and documents from her quake-evacuated Wellington apartment - as well as her 2-year-old goldfish, Sir Swimsalot.

It's going to be a sunny one this weekend for most of the country.