A team of rural firefighters spent 20 hours battling strong winds, dry, inhospitable terrain and a blaze which took out 10ha of Wairarapa scrub, bush and farmland yesterday.

As hot, dry weather threatens to create a drought, farmers are preparing for the worst.

Elisabeth Easther finds the perfect place to escape the crowds.

As temperatures soar above 30C across parts of the country, so has demand for firefighters as tinder-dry conditions create the perfect environment for forest and scrub fires.

Fingers crossed, you will be blessed with a refreshing sea breeze as you tackle these top walks.

Three-wheel pedal power can lead to a perfect pinot noir, writes Paul Rush.

The Air Force says crew on a new helicopter rescued a missing tramper on the chopper's debut mission.

A young man who was behind the wheel of a ute that hit a commuter train in Wairarapa, killing his 15-year-old girlfriend, has been sentenced to 200 hours' community service.

In the ultimate DIY job, Carterton man Paul Furkert managed to splint his own leg that broke when his Land Rover flipped on an isolated farm track.

Life & Style Editor Nicky Park shares her insider tips for making the most of Toast Martinborough ahead of ticket sales for this year's food and wine festival.

A man has been seriously injured after his car crashed into a tree in Wairarapa overnight.

Nearly two years after an Australian tourist died in a quad bike accident, the negligent operator has walked away without a conviction or having to pay a cent.

The vintage-aircraft market was once divided between pilots and aviation museums, but Peter Jackson represents a new breed of collector.

Two trampers missing in Tararua Forest Park in Wairarapa overnight have been found this morning after being trapped by a slip.

An adventure company has been found guilty over the death of an Australian tourist two years ago.

Anne Gibson takes in the luxurious accommodation and dramatic surroundings at a Palliser Bay lodge that's hosted royalty.

The astonishingly wild setting of this Palliser Bay lodge belies the extreme luxury of its accommodation spaces.

For further information see: wharekauhau.co.nz.

Hollywood film tycoon James Cameron has made two further Wairarapa farm purchases but how much he paid has been kept secret.

A group that savagely bashed a disabled man who had been the subject of a false rape rumour will each spend at least 17 years in jail.