Traffic is backed up on Auckland's on north-bound lane.

A Westport woman has admitted to careless driving causing the death of 66-year-old Seddonville woman Marie Evelyn Johnston, after initially denying the charge.

A West Coast man killed in a fatal crash near Christchurch on Sunday evening was a former Pike River miner.

Police hope to formally identify two bodies found in the search for the Canadian tourists as soon as possible, so their families can be informed.

A motorist who died in a fatal crash near Ashburton on Friday night has today been named by police.

A worker has been taken to hospital after being injured in an accident at the Pike River mine site this morning.

Two people had a lucky escape when a car they were in plunged into a river today.

Canterbury Police are at the scene of a fatal crash that occurred in Christchurch.

A brave Esther Taufui, 6, didn't hesitate when a gas explosion ripped through the kitchen, injuring her dad yesterday.

A 61-year-old woman has been critically injured after she fell from her horse riding in an organised hunt today.

Police are appealing for witnesses from an incident which saw a speeding vehicle crash in Taumarunui.

People are trapped in a car after it crashed off a bank in Murupara early this evening.

A 26-year-old man lost control of his motorcycle on Waitarere Beach.

One person suffered minor injuries after their car struck a light post in Tauranga this afternoon.

Emergency services are at the scene of an explosion in South Auckland this afternoon.

A section of State Highway 12 near the Northland settlement of Ruawai is closed this morning after truck struck and killed a cow about 9am.

One person has been taken to hospital following a crash between a car and a fire engine this morning.

A British woman has been killed after she smashed into an ancient Roman bridge whilst bungee jumping in Spain as her aunt watched on.

A crash involving three vehicles and a horse has left the animal dead and a car trapped under live electrical wires in Horowhenua last night.

A driver of a car is seriously injured after a late night pursuit ended rapidly when a speeding car collided with a truck.

Two people were taken to hospital in a critical condition after a crash on Swanson Road in West Auckland early this morning.

The family of Sonny Rawhiti Kemp, who died after the ambulance he was being taken to hospital in crashed, are making their way to the Far North to prepare for his tangi.

Sonny Rawhiti Kemp, 66, was on his way to hospital when the ambulance smashed into a power pole.

An investigation is under way after an ambulance taking a critically ill man to hospital crashed into a power pole. Shortly afterwards, the man died at the scene.

A St John paramedic involved in an ambulance crash in Northland this morning is now in a stable condition in hospital.

Police today said the 17-year-old youth would appear in Westport District Court on Thursday.

The motorcyclist found dead after a crash in Hamilton on Saturday morning was 29-year-old Raglan man Nathan William Nolan.

One person has been rescued from a car that went into a swamp in Avondale this morning.

A man is seriously injured following a crash between a cyclist and a truck in Wellington early this morning.