A new book and exhibition by photographer Fiona Pardington examines the historic - and now derided - practice of taking casts of people's heads to study their brains. Some were her ancestors.

Firefighters have been working flat out in New Plymouth today assessing the damage after two tornadoes tore through the city early this morning.

Police say an elderly woman who sneaked out of a New Plymouth rest home, checked herself into a motel for the night.

Apparently, rocking horses around New Zealand have been gradually culled from playgrounds in recent years.

Liz Light discovers the delights of windy and wave-pounded Taranaki.

Police have named a 19-year-old Taranaki man killed when the car he was driving crashed into trees on Sunday evening.

Elizabeth Smither is an acclaimed New Plymouth-based poet, novelist and short story writer. She has recently released The Commonplace Book (AUP, $34.99), a collection of thoughts about writing and the writer's life.

The Easter holiday road toll stands at five after a single-vehicle crash in Taranaki last night.

Tens of thousands of New Zealanders turned out at dawn services across the country.

Police have named the 25-year-old woman who died as a result of a house fire in Paraparaumu yesterday morning.

Facial piercings have been approved as part of school uniform at a major New Plymouth high school.

The flatmate of a 25-year-old mother who died in a house fire in Paraparaumu last night has described how she tried to save her.