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.

A former national wrestler has admitted a 22-year-old rape and kidnapping mystery. The Herald can now reveal his shocking history.

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 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.

Police are after a "short, tubby" middle-aged man who indecently assaulted a 14-year-old girl near a school today.

A rescue helicopter was called to the scene, but was diverted elsewhere when the man was confirmed dead.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

Environment Canterbury is standing by its decision not to fine or prosecute Chief Justice Dame Sian Elias and her businessman husband Hugh Fletcher after photos emerged of their cattle drinking out of a North Canterbury lake.

The newly appointed vice-chancellor at Canterbury's Lincoln University says he wanted to find out more about the tertiary institution before he took on the job.

A fire which ripped through a property in Canterbury could have led to more tragic consequences had those inside not woken up to the sound of windows smashing.

A light plane crashed near Sheffield in Canterbury after the pilot misjudged the landing.

Two seriously injured young children crawled to safety as their father lay dead in their car after a crash on Ashburton Gorge Rd last night.

A South Canterbury deputy principal who suffered a suspected heart attack at school remains in hospital and is breathing on her own, after she was revived by quick thinking colleagues.