Waikato

For one athlete a lot has changed since she was meant to compete in the Ironman 70.3 World Championship in Taupō.

Green MP Tamatha Paul says there's a feeling of determination in Tokoroa after last night's 'Save our Mill' meeting. Audio

Upston was one of around 500 people who attended the meeting on Monday night. Audio

The lockdown was over within an hour.

The deputy PM is among those attending a community meeting about the mill, with calls for worker relief heading into Christmas.

A former representative rugby player fired from his teaching role for alleged serious misconduct during an U15 rugby trip has been reinstated.

Police are investigating a number of aggravated burglaries in west Waikato.

The group - including three children - would likely have drowned if they hadn't been spotted, lifeguards say.

"We're dealing with complex, high-risk youth offenders," Oranga Tamariki deputy chief says after confirming two out of 10 youths absconded from the trial and a third died in a crash.

"It's ageism. I should just do a Biden and go away," 80-year-old Ross Goudie says.

Police are going door to door in a neighbourhood as they seek more information after his remains were found at a rural location near Tokoroa last month.

Nearly 800 surgeries were cancelled and postponed in three months over bed shortages and lack of capacity.

The tale of two towns - Taupō and Westport - which face losing their only local newspaper. 

While the water is safe to drink, there is something "odd" about the fact that treatment plants are not able to remove the arsenic, scientist says.

The Tahuna Golf Club is bringing to an end more than half a century of tradition by getting rid of the flock of sheep that has long kept its fairways trim.

The three-vehicle crash left one person dead and 14 in hospital.