A grandmother who pulled a young family from a crashed car moments before it burst into flames says she was "in the right place at the right time".

A Northland family have a quick-thinking passer-by to thank for saving their lives after a bizarre crash described by a policeman as the luckiest escape he has seen.

As Kerikeri solo dad Neil Arthur Phillips entered the dock for sentencing on dope dealing charges, his two teenage sons rushed over from the public gallery to give him a hug.

Police are investigating the possible theft of hundreds of historic photographs from a Far North museum.

As the Herald reported this week, many national cycleway trails are open. But elsewhere progress is painfully slow. Kirsten Warner visits Hokianga to find out why

Tim Anderson vomited every kilometre for the second half of his half marathon and all for a good cause.

The impacts of the global financial crisis hit are ingrained in our communities.