Christchurch mayor Bob Parker doesn't pull any punches in a personal account of the earthquakes that rocked his city.

The continuing obstinacy of courts, police and government is thankfully no match for the determination of Joe Karam, writes Sir Bob Jones.

The so-called Urewera Four have lost their appeals against conviction and sentence, but the case could still be taken to the Supreme Court.

A woman who was lost on the Rimutaka Hill for at least eight hours after her car veered off the road last night was "remarkably'' uninjured.

A mother is accused of immersing her 2-year-old son's hands in boiling water then failing to seek medical treatment for at least eight months.

A man who wedged his double-trailer truck on a winding hill road north of Wellington after following GPS instructions was a disqualified driver, police say.

Education Minister Hekia Parata hit a bum note with secondary teachers today when she said children had told her their teachers weren't pronouncing their names correctly.

The Rimutaka Hill Road has been closed this morning due to a spill. A police spokesperson said the spill, believed to be either diesel or oil, was reported about 6.30am.

The partner of a Wellington drug boss has been sentenced to five years and 10 months in prison for helping to run an extensive methamphetamine operation.