Latest fromManawatu-Whanganui

Why Rātana is in the spotlight after 100 years
Rātana "was more famous than Brad Pitt".

Eyes on Rountree at nationals in Woodville
20 Whanganui riders off to motocross nationals with the juniors the ones to watch

Local Focus: Ratana celebrates 100 years
Rātana "was more famous than Brad Pitt". Made with funding from NZ On Air.

Beat the heat on muggy nights: Try this fan trick
It's all about where you position your fan - to make your own wind tunnel.

Record growth proves region is a hot spot
Whanganui's population rose by 700 people last year

No vacancies as visitors flock to Whanganui
Beds hard to find as visitors beat a track to Whanganui

Local Focus: One-day races don't come much harder than this
NZ's newest international pro cycle race. Made with funding from NZ On Air.

Hocquard high tails it into the big league
Whanganui cricketer Matthew Hocquard named Hawkes Bay Cricket Camp tournament MVP

Body of missing teen pulled from river
Body recovered after 16-year-old feared swept away.

NZ's worst prisons: Assault figures released
A total of 295 prisoner on staff assaults took place between January and August last year.

Kidnapping and arson charges 15 months after car fire
A man was found by the burning vehicle with serious head injuries and burns.

From dairy farmers to budding hemp growers
Dairy farmers trial hemp as a new way of farming. Made with funding from NZ On Air.

Search for teen feared swept down river
A boy in his teens is believed to have been swept away in the Rangitikei River.

Two women injured in separate horse accidents
Two women were airlifted to hospital following separate accidents involving horses.

Water runs red at popular beach fountain
Beachgoers were met by a strange sight at one of Auckland's most popular beaches today.

Local Focus: From white gold to green gold
Dairy farmers trial hemp as a new way of farming - Made with funding from NZ On Air.

NZ's first cannabis grower headed for sainthood
First to grow cannabis in New Zealand, Mother Suzanne Aubert is destined for sainthood.

Auckland U15 girls unbeaten in Whanganui
Auckland hunting back-to-back national U15 Girls cricket titles in Whanganui

Whanganui kid gets his Christmas bike back
Jansen Pears, 11, is back on his own bike - and offering a bike to another boy.

Missing millionaire: $6.5m Lotto prize unclaimed
One lucky Lotto player will finish the holiday with an extra $6.5m to spend.

Man arrested after 71yo assaulted, burgled
The man is charged in relation to two burglaries at the house, in January and October.

Georgia on his mind
The Chron talked with ex-Whanganui Milton Haig who is now coach of Georgia's Rugby team.

Elderly woman assaulted, robbed for 2nd time in three months
Police say Palmerston North woman traumatised and are seeking sightings of her car.

Woman horrified to find crying baby red and sweaty in car
To woman's horror she found the crying baby sweating in a car she described as a furnace.

Kathy Tahau guards Treaty relics
Whanganui's Kathy Tahau has been the guardian of pens used to sign the treaty since 1972

Drivers urged to take care as roads melt
NZ Transport Agency has advice for motorists as hot temperatures melt roads.

Summer Series: Gorgeous Gardens
Bonnie and Jack, both keen gardeners, share the honours in their Anzac Parade garden.