Thousands have reported feeling the "severe" 5.5 magnitude quake which rattled central New Zealand this afternoon.

Police say a man shot overnight in Christchurch was targeted by two intruders.

A weak cold front will bring cloud, drizzle and showers to the country over the next few days but should clear in time for New Year celebrations.

The Tongan brass brand which lost two members in a Christmas Eve bus crash performed a tribute concert tonight as the holiday road toll climbed to 11.

The funeral arrangements of two of the teenagers killed in a horror smash in the early hours of Boxing Day have been released.

Canterbury Police are seeking a missing man who was last seen on Boxing Day.

A high-risk child sex offender in custody after admitting cutting off his electronic monitoring tag and going on the run.

A woman has been charged with murder after a man died in Christchurch on Christmas Day.

Cars, caravans and trees were ravaged when a fast-moving hedge fire spread through a north Canterbury campground.

Locals were unable to save whale that repeatedly stranded on popular beach.

Three young teenagers died in a high-speed car crash when their vehicle, driven by a 14-year-old, slammed into a tree.

A high-risk sex offender has been found by police.

A teen killed alongside two young friends in a "preventable" early morning crash has been remembered in an emotional tribute urging other drivers to take care.

The holiday road toll now stands at seven since Friday afternoon.

Don't let the morning cloud fool you - it is set to be a fine Boxing Day for New Zealanders, with Central Otago tipped as the best place to be.

What will start out as a cloudy morning for most of the country should clear as the Christmas day wears on, but the odd shower is in store too.

The best spots for enjoying a Christmas hamper outdoors will be in the Bay of Plenty, Nelson and Central Otago tomorrow.

Quake-affected businesses in Wellington and Hurunui have been given a boost with the announcement that support subsidies will be extended.

Kiwi anglers will be able to log their catch this summer - and contribute to data around our fish stocks - thanks to a free app.

Seven people, including an infant, went out on a small boat yesterday, but just the skipper was wearing a lifejacket.

Wet weather today will clear throughout the country making way for a mainly fine Christmas weekend.

The Canterbury DHB faces mounting deficits if nothing changes, a PwC report shows.

A legal settlement will stop vegetation being cleared without permission in Canterbury's picturesque Mackenzie Country.

Christmas Day should be fine but be ready for thunderstorms in the coming days.

Burglars snuck into the destroyed two-story house and stole the only salvageable items including a TV, a cabinet and food.

A trailer previewing a documentary sharing the inspirational journey of young Christchurch cancer survivor Jake Bailey has been released tonight.

The main road into Kaikoura from the south has been opened to daytime traffic in time for Christmas.

All Blacks great Richie McCaw flies with Santa into earthquake-battered Kaikoura today.

A Sydney conman who fleeced $500,000 out of a Christchurch man in a vending machine scam has today been jailed for 15 months and will

What will the weather be doing on Sunday for Christmas?