The Green Party wants to bring our most elite troops home from Afghanistan following reports of links to the torture of prisoners.

A Horowhenua police officer collapsed and died following a routine police physical fitness test.

A New Zealand teen beauty queen who lost her crown for dying her blonde hair brown has received a flood of support from the United States.

In a warehouse packed with dignitaries and military officers, mourners today heard how NZ had lost a fine young leader, 28-year-old Lieutenant Tim O'Donnell.

An earthquake has been felt in Palmerston North and other parts of the Manawatu as well as in northern Wairarapa and southern Hawkes Bay.

Thirty-four soldiers from just one army base have faced drinking-related court charges in the first six months of this year.

Bridge swing operator Alistair McWhannell was today sentenced to 400 hours community service for the manslaughter of a student who fell to her death last year.

As detectives try to find dairy farmer Scott Guy's killer, his widow is in hiding in Hawkes Bay.

Police hunting the killer of farmer Scott Guy are frustrated with the lack of response to calls for information about two cars seen on the morning of his death.

There has been no suggestion that dairy farmer Scott Guy or his wife were followed in the weeks before his murder but investigators would be remiss not to consider the possibility, police said today.

Police have acquired video footage of murdered farmer Scott Guy's wife to determine if she was being followed in the weeks before her husband's death, the Herald has learned.

One plane landed safely after a mid-air collision in Feilding this afternoon, while the other crashed, killing the flying instructor and student occupants.

Police have eliminated a woman seen giving away puppies from their murder inquiry and want to hear from two motorists.

An unlicensed driver has been taken to hospital after a police pursuit in Palmerston North this morning ended with a vehicle slamming into a truck.