Latest from Palmerston North

Two suspicious house fires

People were evacuated from one house while the other property was empty.

Abduction: Open-ended sentence considered

The sentencing of a man who abducted a 5-year-old girl as she walked to school and indecently assaulted will be delayed while an open-ended jail sentence is considered.

Student jailed over death of girlfriend

A 23-year-old student who beat his young girlfriend to death in Palmerston North has been sentenced to eight years in prison for manslaughter.

DNA test key to tracking treasured pooch

A family whose beloved purebred dog was stolen turned into super sleuths to track her down, using DNA from one of her puppies.

Head boy's stirring anti-racism speech

A head boy's stirring speech about racism in New Zealand has won him first place in the national final of the 2016 Race Unity Speech Awards in Auckland.

Man injured performing motorcycle jump

A man who fell badly while performing a motorcycle jump is believed to have suffered multiple leg fractures.

Police reminder after motorcyclist's 132km/h ride

A motorcyclist nabbed doing 132km/h on a rural stretch of road and found to have been drinking has led to another stern reminder from police to drive responsibly.

Motorcyclist speeds through dangerous stretch

Police are shocked with the actions of a motorcyclist who sped through a stretch of road that only hours before had claimed the life of a man in a horror truck crash.

'Amazing' rescue saves woman from river

A woman stranded in the swollen Manawatu River was rescued by a quick-thinking bystander and a firefighter.

Man recovering from gunshot wound

Police were called to a house last night after a man reported being shot.

Mystery drug: Soldiers hospitalised

Eight men stationed at Linton Military Camp were hospitalised after taking an "unknown substance". Police are investigating.

Sex offender facing life in jail

A sex offender could spend the rest of his life in jail after he was sentenced today for a spate of attacks and sex crimes including rape.

Five killed on roads at weekend

A woman died after a crash between a motorcycle and a car on Sunday afternoon, taking the weekend's road toll to five.

Fight over teen's headstone

The family of a dead teenager are upset that their local council have attempted to cover his headstone, which bears song titles containing expletives.

Bail application adjourned for accused police station shooter

The man accused of shooting two police stations has appeared in the Palmerston North District Court.

Firefighters remain at site of factory fire

Firefighters were called to the scene of a blaze at the Milson Foundry in Palmerston North this afternoon.