A fatal explosion may have been prevented if residents had reported their suspicions about a P-lab south of Auckland, police said.

Animal rights protesters plan to spend the night chained to silos on a battery hen farm near Pukekohe, 50km south of Auckland, in a bid to draw attention to the caged birds' living conditions.

All Blacks Mils Muliaina and first five-eighth Stephen Donald will feature for the Chiefs in their final Super Rugby pre-season hitout.

Meet the new batch of contestants for New Zealand's Hottest Home Baker.

Paul Lewis and Andrew Alderson pick some top spots to swing your clubs.

Roads and vehicles must be "more forgiving" to curb a road toll which averages more than one death a day, the AA says. Figures released by the Ministry of Transport today show 371 people died on the roads over the past year.

Police are investigating a fatal hit-and-run in Manukau early today, which took the holiday road toll to two.

At first glance Karyn Dumper thought the shotgun pointed at her husband was nothing more than a toy. Then the shots rang out.

Relaxing Clevedon is an ideal escape from the hustle and bustle of city life.

Catherine Smith enjoys the beauty and bounty of the Awhitu Peninsula.

A haunted scream park in Franklin is not for the faint-hearted, writes Jacqueline Smith.

Jim Eagles takes the grandkids to Glenbrook to meet a favourite family friend.

Take a drive to Clevedon and Whitford and you're likely to leave with a full stomach.

A father accused of killing his son, after allegedly driving his car into the path of a train, displayed appalling driving before the "entirely preventable" incident, a jury was told today.

A policewoman is in hospital with serious chest and abdominal injuries after a police car was involved in a head-on crash in Pukekoke, south of Auckland, just before 5pm this evening.