A homicide inquiry has been launched after a woman's body was found yesterday on a rural Canterbury road where firefighters were battling a series of suspicious fires.

Marcus Luke Tucker's badly bashed body was found burned and dumped near Lake Ellesmere on Anzac Day.

Students will be the big losers out of a decision to cancel two high school after-balls in Mid-Canterbury.

As a jury selection panel gathered in the High Court at Christchurch this morning, Shaun Murray Robert Innes pleaded guilty to the reduced charge of manslaughter.

Simon Roy Reeve of Kaiapoi is the first person to be charged under new Civil Aviation Authority rules.

You're not in Auckland anymore Toto - the temperature drop was noticeable the moment we stepped out of our Jucy 4WD rental car.

It's believed fireworks caused a large fire on Canterbury's Port Hills last night.

The founders of this skifield still love strapping on their skis, writes Kelly Lynch.

Marcus Luke Tucker's body was found burned and dumped by a Canterbury lake on Anzac Day.

A 51-year-old man has been charged with the murder of Marcus Luke Tucker after his body was found dumped near Lake Ellesmere.

Marcus Luke Tucker's body was found dumped near a popular lake in rural Canterbury on Monday.

Police have identified the body of a man found dumped near a popular lake in rural Canterbury.

The trial of Simon Reeve, the first person to be charged under new CAA drone rules, heard evidence from a TV reporter.

Police investigating the death of a man whose body was found on a rural Canterbury road have contacted local petrol stations asking about small sales of fuel.

The identity of the man whose body was found dumped near a popular lake in rural Canterbury remains a mystery.

Police are not immediately able to confirm how many people have died in the 4pm crash involving a car and a truck on State Highway 1, near Chertsey.

Police are at a home this evening following the death. They were supporting the family of the child and investigating the death on behalf of the coroner.

An attempt to recover a ship that sank off the Canterbury coast last October with the loss of three lives will be made this weekend.

Gerry Brownlee has had a portfolio renamed to reflect Christchurch's move from post-earthquake "recovery" to "regeneration".

Her mother, aunt and grandmother died of breast cancer. Samantha Pooke is opting for surgery to ensure she survives.

Victims were threatened with weapons during two separate early-morning home invasions in Canterbury overnight.

First Direct Taxis has said it will review its supply arrangements after a Christchurch wheelchair user was left stranded at the airport, despite booking in advance.

Homes were evacuated as 18 fire crews and two helicopters battled a blaze which destroyed a house in Canterbury and put one person in hospital with burn injuries.

This morning, Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel will meet with GNS Science experts to hear about the latest aftershocks.

Valentine Day's rumble jolts Christchurch ahead of anniversary of deadly 2011 earthquake.

Inspections around the Canterbury region will see exactly how much damage has been done in the wake of yet another strong quake.

Becky Gane lost her husband in the 2011 quake. Yesterday's shake took her straight back to that day.

A Christchurch lifeguard could only watch in horror as a cliff began to collapse just above the youngsters he was supervising - including his son.