Kiwi surfer Sarah Mason won the ASP girls pro junior France final over Australian Dimity Stoyle at Les Bourdaines at the weekend.

We baby boomers seem hell-bent on dashing off around the world gaining notches in our money belts. Everyone has been, or is going, to Europe or Asia.

Coach Graham Henry doesn't like seeing the All Blacks doctor's number come up on his phone.

Investigations are under way after two Air NZ flights were forced to make emergency landings yesterday.

Travellers could get caught as heavy downfalls settle over the North Island for the next 24 hours.

Columbine was set up 60 years ago by the three Thorpe bothers, Alan, George and Jack.

Department of Conservation (DOC) officials have seized two nets and about 80 fish following reports of commercial fishing in a marine reserve in Auckland.

A tropical cyclone formed near Fiji today is on track to bring strong winds and heavy rain to New Zealand next week, forecasters predict.

People in northern and eastern areas of the North Island are being advised to take precautions as heavy rains threaten to sweep across those regions tonight and tomorrow, with a possibility of flooding in coastal and low-lying areas.

Heavy rain is on the way today for much of the North Island, with as much 200mm for some areas today and tomorrow, MetService forecasts.

Wine writer John Hawkesby takes a look back over a year of sipping to come up with his 12 best bottles.

Two earthquakes have rocked the East Coast area this afternoon but there have been no reports of damage.

Herald Maori affairs reporter Yvonne Tahana on the at times frustrating job of covering national kapa haka festival Te Matatini o te Ra.