Animals are blessed at the annual SPCA Auckland Blessing of the Animals, held at St Matthew-In-The-City, Auckland

Four abandoned blue heeler puppies rescued by members of the public have been euthanised.

A pod of dolphins has been putting on acrobatic shows for residents on the North Shore.

Elisabeth Easther reckons a farm stay could help satisfy your country craving

A Northland community has rocked the international lizard world with the possible discovery of a new species of skink at Bream Head.

A sighting of a Haast tokoeka kiwi chick at Orokonui Ecosanctuary is an important milestone for the recovery of the rare native bird, the Department of Conservation says.

A Gisborne woman suffered serious facial injuries in what's been described as a "horrific" attack by two dogs.

Muzzled and waiting in a sterile room for the vet's lethal injection, this was the last sight that 3338 dogs in Auckland saw.

A 5-year-old boy is in a stable condition in hospital after being bitten by a dog in south Auckland last night.

A 5-year-old boy has been hospitalised after being bitten on the face by a pit bull, believed to be a family pet, in South Auckland.

Three dead whales have washed up on West Coast beaches in as many days.

A shivering litter of tiny blue heeler puppies was dumped on city streets on one of the coldest nights of the year.

Penguins can move underwater with the speed of a swallow or swift, but cannot fly even as far as a chicken. How did a bird that in some cases shuffles 65km to its breeding grounds on unsuitable flippers lose its ability to fly there quickly?

A firefighter who resuscitated a puppy rescued from a burning house says he did not think twice before blowing oxygen through the dog's nose.

A puppy had to be given mouth-to-mouth resuscitation by Wanganui fireman Gary Wilson after a central city cottage was gutted by fire.

A couple's plan for a dolphin-assisted birth has drawn scorn and danger warnings from experts.

University of Otago researchers are pounding the pavement with dog-owners to discover how taking a walk with man's best friend affects a person's wellbeing.

Two horses have died after being hit by a car in south Auckland this morning.

Circling 180m above the ground, its thermal camera trained on the scrubland below, the drone silently watches for its target.

Ann Huston and her sons hire a boat and head to Indonesia's Komodo National Park in search of giant lizards.