The extended state of emergency provides reassurance for farmers in the recovery phase.

South Island's rail network took a battering.

The crossing has been closed on and off since Tuesday.

Air Force crew risked own lives to save trio caught in 'raging torrents' in Canterbury.

NZTA had been testing the damaged bridge through Tuesday afternoon and evening.

We can't call it a 'one-in-100 year' event, but can say climate change likely contributed.

"A big clean up job lies ahead of us," PM Jacinda Ardern says.

KiwiRail boss says repairs will take days.

Water levels slowly easing as hundreds of people plan to return to evacuated homes.

Mop-ups under way already but torrential rain continues to fall.

People in parts of Canterbury are being ordered to head to higher ground.

River levels have been falling but it could take two or three more days to drain.

Dozens of schools are closed and residents are on standby as heavy rain continues to fall.

Ashburton is preparing for mass evacuations as the river rises and heavy rain continues.

Forecaster says an "atmospheric traffic jam" is helping drive wild weather in Canterbury.

Heathcote River in Chch has broken its banks and next high tide will bring new flooding.

Floodwaters in Canterbury have exceeded warnings "by a huge magnitude", Fed Farmers says.

The matter was expected to come back to council later this week.

Ashburton appeared on a handful of lists of one of the worst town slogans in the country.

Hilsley Short was left anxious and stressed about providing for his family.

Teenage sisters Tayla and Sunmara Alexander died in the November 2019 crash.

Inquest into the death of a mother and her two young children begins.

A Fire and Emergency NZ spokesman said they were called to the blaze at about 6.23am.

Maritime NZ says it was lucky nobody died.

Firefighters responded to two house fires in the South Island overnight.

Emergency services called to fire about 11pm.

Good day sunshine? Some towns and cities have enjoyed 50 per cent more sun than others.

"We're very reluctant to let it go," Owner Kevin Stewart said.