A man who fell several metres into the rough sea while fishing from rocks in Wairarapa today was rescued by a local fishing boat.

As summer fades into autumn and the season of mist and mellow fruitfulness, it's time for hay to be saved, harvests to be gathered and, best of all, have festivals to attend.

A man has been convicted of careless driving causing injury, despite the fact he wasn't driving the car that crashed, injuring him and his mother.

A prominent Northland businessman died from a heart attack while competing in the Wellington-to-Auckland Cycle Challenge.

Elisabeth Easther checks out the cheery Daffodil Capital.

Firefighters in Hawkes Bay and Wairarapa are on high alert as the regions brace for forecast strong winds and hot temperatures.

The horrific Boxing Day death of a 16-year-old boy from South Otago is the year's seventh quad bike fatality.

South Wairarapa District Council has voted to change its policy on shooting unwanted and dangerous dogs, opting for euthanasia by a vet instead.

The family of bashed Martinborough firefighter Peter Fisher are thrilled with the progress he is making in rehab and have been told medical staff aim to have him go home on January 7.

Carterton schoolgirl Grace Yeats successfully underwent brain surgery on Wednesday aiming to calm powerful spasms.

An ill-prepared Chilean tourist who got lost while tramping in Mt Holdsworth would have died if he had not had a mobile phone with him, say search and rescue volunteers.

Two rare birds have laid eggs at Wairarapa's Riversdale Beach and a temporary fence has been built to protect them.

Carterton schoolgirl Grace Yeats will today become the first child in New Zealand to receive electrical brain implants to help calm her violent seizures.

An 18-year-old woman was punched in the face during what appeared to be a random attack in the Masterton McDonald's carpark early yesterday.