A friend of a New Zealander killed by a falling tree branch at the world-famous Kew Gardens in England has recounted the horrifying ordeal at an inquest.

Whether it's lifejackets or helmets, surely anything that potentially saves lives and minimises injury in an accident is a good thing.

The Dutch businessman involved in a crash that killed three people near Rakaia had a previous crash in Canterbury, it has been revealed.

It's been revealed the Malaysian Government has spend just a fraction of what Australia has paid in the search for missing flight MH370.

As flames engulfed the crashed car, firefighter Buddy Harwood knew an explosion was only minutes away.

A touching musical tribute today farewelled a "fun-loving, extroverted 12-year-old girl who enjoyed life" before she was killed in a horrific crash last weekend.

The widow of New Zealander Paul Weeks has hit out at the Kiwi author of a new novella on the plane's disappearance.

Four people have been injured in a collision on Dunedin's southern motorway, in which one of the vehicles may have been travelling in the wrong direction.

A two-year-old boy is dead after being run over by a 1.5-tonne roller yesterday at his home.

A two-year-old child has died after being run over by a 1.5 tonne roller.

A former rental car company manager is backing a petition to introduce testing for overseas drivers.

Overseas drivers were involved in at least 558 crashes that resulted in death or injury last year. In about 75% of the cases, the visitors were found at fault.

The uncle of an Australian tourist who died after falling from a quad bike has backed pursuing legal action against the adventure tour company, despite it going into liquidation.

Memorials for two 12-year-old girls killed in a crash at Rakaia at the weekend have been inundated with well-wishes and messages of love and support.

A 21-year-old farm worker has been seriously injured in a quad bike accident in the Rangitikei district.

Memorials have been set up at schools attended by two 12-year-olds killed in a horrific road crash, with school friends leaving flowers and messages for the girls.

A Dutch tourist has been remanded on bail after an appearance in Christchurch District Court this morning over the deaths of three people in a car smash at the weekend.

The family of a girl killed in a crash with two other people say the tourist accused of causing the carnage is as much a victim as those who died.

Police have still be unable to speak to an injured woman, four days after she drove 5kms the wrong way down the Southern Motorway, which killed an innocent motorist.

Prime Minister John Key does not believe laws need to be tightened around tourists driving on New Zealand roads.

Two of this weekend's fatal crashes involved tourists.