Latest from Wellington Region

Fire crews battle Masterton forest blaze

About eight hectares of forest has been burned by a blaze in rural Masterton, with crews still on site last night to keep the fire under control.

Total fire ban imposed on Wellington region

Farmers in crisis as city fills pools

Big dry forces stock selloffs, but Aucklanders can still water gardens, wash cars thanks to Waikato River supplies

Peter Nicolle elected president of firefighters union

A Wanganui fireman is now heading the country's firefighters union and says he wants to develop much closer and clearer relationships with the Fire Service on his watch.

Wellington expressway given green light

Where fashion meets theatre

Swallowing a sneaking suspicion she's a culture cougar, Catherine Smith is wowed by the wearable arts.

Stock Takes: Green light

Looks like details of the long-awaited Mighty River Power float are set to be released on Monday with the Government raring to go after receiving the all clear from the Supreme Court.

Ex-jetski champion remanded in custody

A former national jetski champion and the brother of former Commonwealth Games athlete Simon Poelman has reappeared in court facing drugs charges.

Finding my feet

Sharon Stephenson discovers returning from an expat life can be a bittersweet homecoming.

Kapiti beached whale to be buried

Cricket: Ryder won't rule out return for England

Man who died after seizures had 'very remote' chance of recovery - coroner

A bit of England

Two arrested after ramming police car

A police officer has been left injured after a 23-year-old man allegedly fled in a stolen vehicle, then rammed police cars when he was finally brought to a stop.

Wellington in short water supply

Economist: Sales boom won't last

Retailers might be enjoying a post-Christmas spending bonanza, but an economist warns the sales boom can't last.

Party pill lab busted

Police say they have busted a "major" drug lab believed to be in the process of manufacturing thousands of ecstasy pills for New Year's Eve music festivals.

150 arrests in police crackdown across lower North Island