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.

Bridget McMenamin worked on the Lisa Blakie murder inquiry. She has launched a Facebook page to investigate the 2000 case again.

One person has moderate to serious injuries after a car crash in rural South Canterbury this afternoon.

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

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?

A Christchurch brothel owner stands to lose $2m after a judge ruled in favour of police.

Firefighters battled a blaze that gutted a two-story house in Christchurch this evening.

Geonet say there is a 98 per cent chance of an aftershock of 6 to 6.9 magnitude in the next year.

Police are seeking two young men after the aggravated robbery of a bus driver in Christchurch.

Finance Minister Steven Joyce outlines his attitude to Auckland's woes, Super Fund and tax.

If variety is the spice of life, this week is set to be a lively one.

All Blacks great Richie McCaw and fiancee Gemma Flynn have splashed out on a spectacular $2.5m family home.

A group of Christchurch homeowners have been given the thumbs up to proceed with a class action against their insurer, Southern Response.

When Kaikoura locals told visiting PM Bill English the Govt effort was "piss poor" in the quake-strewn region, Gerry Brownlee let them have it.

A jealous truck driver who hit his neighbour and occasional lover with a garden gnome and bashed her to death with a metal bar has failed to get off his conviction.

Hundreds of people have lodged injury claims following last month's massive magnitude-7.8 earthquake.

People whose houses were damaged in last month's earthquake can apply for a $1000 Red Cross grant.