Off the back of two devastating wildfires in Tongariro National Park, Kate Green takes a look back at some of the big ones, and a look forward at future risk.

Te Arawa Lakes Trust is worried about the lakes in its area and the boaties coming to use them.

"That's six hours he could have been by himself if these members of the public hadn't stepped up and help us out," says the local head of police.

Festival director Kieran Spillane was confident the grounds will dry up in hours: "The sites are actually holding up very, very well."

The invasive noble false widow spider was first spotted in Porirua last year with further sightings in Christchurch, Nelson, Waikato and Northland.

One person has died after a single vehicle crash on State Highway 2 near Tangoio.

Stormy weather has been moving slowly south down the country today, leaving thousands without power.

That is the key message from a new video, which will be compulsory viewing for the country's 6 million international arrivals from now on.

Police have set up a dedicated portal for witnesses of a mass brawl in Auckland to upload any footage they might have.

Tourism New Zealand says it's on track to hit its visitor arrival targets after receiving millions of dollars from the government.

What were some of the biggest topics RNZ's journalists explained this year? Here's a look back.

A man has died in hospital after being struck by a car in Napier on Friday.

The government and industry have announced a joint $75,000 fund to support welfare training for shearers, but advocates say it's not enough to stop sheep being mistreated.

The Tourism Minister has set her sights on doubling the value of tourism exports and growing the number of Kiwis working in the industry.

If any Auckland band caught the zeitgeist of the mid-'90s, it was Strawpeople.