A youth accused of the slaying of Liberty Templeman, 15, today began giving evidence in his own defence at the High Court in Whangarei.

The distraught parents of a slain schoolgirl fled the courtroom as a jury watched video footage of police interviews.

ESR scientists believe blood found on items belonging to the accused boy belonged to murdered teen Liberty Templeman.

A police officer has told a High Court that he spoke to the boy accused of her murder just minutes before he found her body.

Relatives of a 22-month-old girl shaken and dropped when she would not stop crying are upset at her attacker's sentence.

A lone hero dived into the swirling tide to save a drowning woman. But who was he?

A homicide inquiry has been launched after a Kaikohe woman died following what police allege was a domestic violence attack.

A teenager's New Year's Day fun turned to tragedy after he jumped from a 24m waterfall and never surfaced.

Police tried in vain to save the life of a 30-year-old woman at Ruakaka, south of Whangarei, after she was stabbed last night.

Thrill-seeking great-great-grandmother Violet Maskell celebrated her 90th birthday earlier this month by jumping out of a plane.