An 8-year-old girl was sexually assaulted in the sand dunes of Oreti Beach in Southland near where a large number of people were present.

Sir Owen Glenn vowed to give part of his fortune to community projects, but services say they've been told of funding delays.

Scotland Yard has launched a full investigation into allegations that Conservative politicians were members of a paedophile ring which abused British children in care the 1980s.

A High Court decision overthrowing an attempt to close a girls' special needs school in Nelson is being celebrated by one Wanganui family whose daughter is enrolled there.

Education Minister Hekia Parata maintains the safety of children at school is "paramount" as she comes under fire for trying to close a girls' special needs school.

Here's a quick quiz. You are a child. Who is most likely to kill you. Your mum? Your dad? Stepdad? Rodney Hide says police have the answer.

Timaru police are speaking to a man over the alleged abduction of a 9-year-old boy outside his primary school last week.

A woman who claims she saw a man photographing children at a Timaru primary school just hours before a 9-year old boy was allegedly abducted will be interviewed by police.

A neighbour saw a "suss looking" man taking photographs outside a primary school hours before a 9-year-old pupil was abducted.

The family of murdered toddler JJ say they can finally start the healing process after today's guilty verdict.

Rotorua mayor Kevin Winters doesn't know how Nia Glassie's mother can live with herself knowing her baby was so badly mistreated and killed.

Those twisting this saga have probably not given that any thought. Those with decency and empathy must - before more damage is done, writes Owen Jones..

Interviewed over the murder of toddler JJ, Joel Loffley told police any inconsistencies were due to shock and being under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

A court has heard police-intercepted phone calls between a toddler's mother and Joel Loffley, the man accused of the murdering the child.