A woman who collapsed and died while giving a breath test in a booze bus was so stressed by the situation it set off an arrhythmia in her heart, an inquest has heard.

A Hamilton man was lucky to escape injury but will still have some explaining to do after writing off his mother's car during an illegal street race, police say.

An accountant has been jailed for three years and seven months after stealing $320,000 from his clients' bank accounts.

The partner of Diane White, who was killed by her mentally ill neighbour, has applauded police for "bravely" admitting a tragic botched job.

Police could have prevented the hammer attack death of Hamilton woman Diane White who was killed by her neighbour, the Independent Police Conduct Authority has found.

Thousands of people attended the International Tattoo and Art Expo at the Claudelands Event Centre in Hamilton over the weekend. The popular annual event draws some of the best tattoo artists from around the country each year.

A man who crashed his ute on the outskirts of Hamilton this morning could have been trapped for hours if a witness hadn't seen the vehicle career across a paddock and into a creek.

The International Rodeo could be barred from returning to Forsyth Barr Stadium if the Dunedin City Council agrees to a plea from animal rights group Safe.

A Hamilton teen is dead and his 14-year-old mate is in Waikato Hospital with critical injuries because of a series of poor decisions that led to a crash, police say.

Waikato police say the consequences of poor decision making are readily apparent as officers investigate the death of a young man early this morning.

Rotorua beneficiaries' advocate and barrister Paul Blair did not sell cannabis but was a victim of mistaken identity, a jury has heard.

Police are appealing for information about aggravated robbery of a Hamilton takeaway bar on Saturday where a young girl was held up at gunpoint.

A visit to a blueberry farm is entertaining for the whole family, discovers Alexia Santamaria.

A health worker was left badly shaken when a man allegedly tried to sexually assault her in broad daylight outside Waikato Hospital yesterday.

Police have located a suspended driver who allegedly fled a crash that killed a 71-year-old woman in Hamilton today.

Police are urging people to be responsible at work parties after a Hamilton woman bit off another woman's fingernail at a Christmas drinks function.