All residents of a Christchurch rest home have been given antibiotics to curb an outbreak of strep A after the deaths of five elderly women.

Elderly dementia patients have been evacuated from their Canterbury rest home after it was flooded overnight in a torrential rainstorm.

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.

Fergus Blakiston embarks on a 10-day odyssey of the South's skiing high points.

The deaths of Sally Summerfield, her daughter Ella and Ella's friend Abi Hone have left a "big, dark hole" in the tight-knit Sumner community, friends say.

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.

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.

Three people have been killed in a crash near Rakaia. Details of the crash were still sketchy but Ashburton Police senior sergeant Scott Banfield confirmed three people had been killed and two injured. The crash occurred at the intersection of Thompsons Track and Somerton Road shortly before 4pm Saturday.

Three people have been killed in a crash near Rakaia.

The Commerce Commission is so concerned about construction industry cartels, price-fixing and bid-rigging that it has launched a website calling for whistleblowers.

Far from the beaten track is a land where the wind is master, writes Fergus Blakiston.

Severe rain and wind warnings and a drop in temperatures have been issued for parts of the South Island and lower North Island this weekend.

A 75-year-old truck driver has been charged over the death of nurse Sharla Haerewa, 22, in Christchurch.

Police did not coerce Joyce Conwell to confess to the shotgun murder of Alec Rodgers in Christchurch in 1999, the Independent Police Conduct Authority has ruled.

From heliskiing at Mt Hutt to the fun, family atmosphere of the intimate club fields, Canterbury's skifields offer much within an easy drive from Christchurch.

The Garden City's slow but steady rebirth is welcomed by Megan Singleton.

A French tourist swept away after slipping into a raging Woolshed Creek late on Wednesday was washed over a terrifying two waterfalls before clambering out.

Searchers couldn't believe their eyes when a woman who had been swept away in Woolshed Creek late yesterday afternoon walked out alive last night.

Wine, whales and a warm coastal Canterbury welcome capture Megan Singleton's affection.

Jurors in the Ngatai 'Mellory' Manning murder trial have been sent home for the night, and will resume their deliberations tomorrow.