The number of "spin doctors" at Hamilton City Council has increased in the past two years while six other positions in the communications unit have disappeared.

Rotorua beneficiaries advocate Paul Blair has again appealed to the Court of Appeal, claiming he was wrongly convicted on cannabis charges.

A man shot at a Hamilton property last night is likely to undergo surgery later today as police try to establish whether there could be a link to a wanted offender's vehicle.

Waikato police have found a missing teenage girl who failed to return from school in Hamilton yesterday.

Human error put a Hamilton Zoo keeper at risk from a female tiger, an investigation by the Ministry of Primary Industries has found.

UPDATED Up to 200 drunken youths attacked an ambulance and forced a Hamilton events centre into lockdown after a Facebook party got out of hand.

A Hamilton supermarket worker went beyond his job description by chasing a wallet thief for several kilometres and helping in his arrest.

Hot air balloons from all around the world are rising into the skies above Hamilton from six parks around the city today.

A Hamilton man was lucky to escape injury but will still have some explaining to do after writing off his mother's car during an illegal street race, police say.

An accountant has been jailed for three years and seven months after stealing $320,000 from his clients' bank accounts.

The partner of Diane White, who was killed by her mentally ill neighbour, has applauded police for "bravely" admitting a tragic botched job.

Police could have prevented the hammer attack death of Hamilton woman Diane White who was killed by her neighbour, the Independent Police Conduct Authority has found.

A man threatened to open fire on a group of police officers at a Hamilton house this morning.

The International Rodeo could be barred from returning to Forsyth Barr Stadium if the Dunedin City Council agrees to a plea from animal rights group Safe.

A Hamilton teen is dead and his 14-year-old mate is in Waikato Hospital with critical injuries because of a series of poor decisions that led to a crash, police say.

Waikato police say the consequences of poor decision making are readily apparent as officers investigate the death of a young man early this morning.

Rotorua beneficiaries' advocate and barrister Paul Blair did not sell cannabis but was a victim of mistaken identity, a jury has heard.

A 10-year-old girl had a gun pointed in her face while working at a Hamilton takeaway bar and her family is now "very afraid".

Police are appealing for information about aggravated robbery of a Hamilton takeaway bar on Saturday where a young girl was held up at gunpoint.