Latest fromManawatu-Whanganui

Man Tasered for throwing punches at police
Throwing drunken punches at police got James Martin Rapana nowhere - except on the ground, tased.

Concerns for missing rest home resident
A Feilding woman has gone missing and police are worried about her well being.

Puppy led to murder of Black Power man
A puppy going missing started a chain of events leading to Whanganui man Craig Rippon's murder on November 8.

PM lends his artistic flair to school event
Amateur artist - and Prime Minister - John Key has donated a drawing of his workplace to the Turakina School Art Expo this year.

Elderly fraud suspect found
Whanganui police have located William Harding and he is being spoken to.

Memories on a Forgotten Taranaki Rail Tour
Simon Kay relishes the fact that he is finally a welcome guest at an iconic hotel.

Orca stranded in Patea dies
Despite recovery efforts from locals and emergency services, the orca stranded on a South Taranaki beach has passed away.

Council: Sewage video a 'distortion of facts'
A video circulating on social media showing sewage flowing from a treatment plant into a stream is a distortion of the facts, says Horowhenua District Council.

Grand old ride on the rails
Roger Hall climbs aboard a golf buggy to see some isolated, but beautiful, scenery.

Kia ora: Himatangi Beach
Try fish and chips at the beach - washed down with as much wildlife as you can handle.

Kia ora: Palmerston North
This small North Island city is home to more than 100 cultures, finds Elisabeth Easther.

Kia ora: Waiouru
Wild Kaimanawa horses couldn't drag Elisabeth Easther away from this adventurous town.

What's new on Ruapehu?
Jane Jeffries looks forward to ski season at the North Island's great mountain.

Tongariro Crossing: Are we there yet?
A hike up and down a volcano gets Duncan Garner thinking he should really do more of this kind of exercise.

'That's what you get for being white'
A woman who joined in an attack on strangers in the street and yelled “that’s what you get for being white” has been sentenced to community work.

Ohakune: Flying visit a mountain high
A view from above takes a Tongariro National Park experience to new heights.

Tongariro: Plot an alpine escape
Andrew Alderson falls hard for the romance of Chateau Tongariro's historic and literary atmosphere.

Kia ora: Shannon
There's much more to this small and unpretentious town than you might imagine, writes Elisabeth Easther.

Kia ora: Eketahuna
Hiking, fishing, rugby and a giant kiwi draw Elisabeth Easther to a small community that has big spirit.

Tongariro: Training for new mums
Andrew Alderson and Junior treat their queen to a Mother's Day break on the Northern Explorer to National Park.