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.

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

The Wellington City Council is writing to the owners of 80 buildings affected by last month's monster quake, telling them they need targeted engineering assessments.

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

New Zealand's residential building consents rose for the first month in four in October, boosted by two apartment projects in Wellington.

Police investigating the murder of Upper Hutt woman Lois Tolley say they have spoken to a number of people and made arrests on "unrelated matters".

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

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.

More office workers have been sent home in central Wellington as more earthquake damage comes to light.

A 20-year visa-free travel arrangement between the two countries has now ended.

A man who pulled a gun on a police officer remains on the run.

The big win comes only days after a young Auckland woman won $10 million in Saturday's draw.

Demolition contractors have been able to get a small amount of material out of the quake-damaged building at 61 Molesworth St.

A last minute flurry of bidding saw Wellington woman's auction go for $6500.

The quake struck just after midnight on November 14, causing massive fault line ruptures and slips, damaging buildings and closing key roads.

Paddle: 131216RK01BOP A paddle gifted by the renowned Maori chief Hori Ngatai to a young English army lieutenant 150 years ago is

An elderly man who died alone in his Wellington home could have been dead for days before neighbours called police.

A man guilty of a shocking sex attack will today learn if he faces preventive detention.

Members of slain Upper Hutt woman Lois Rita Tolley's family were meant to be gathering for Christmas celebrations, but instead they will be gathering for a funeral.

The operator of a Wellington sex shop has been ordered to pay a former Whanganui woman almost $10,000 in lost wages and compensation

The teens, aged 14 and 15, were training around midday when the wind turned and toppled the three yachts, throwing them into the sea.

Several buildings on Wellington's waterfront could be demolished following the 7.8 magnitude earthquake in Kaikoura. Those are all on CentrePort's land.

Wellington police are appealing for information after a woman was badly injured in a possible hit and run early Saturday morning.