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.

A Dutch tourist has been remanded on bail after an appearance in Christchurch District Court this morning over the deaths of three people in a car smash at the weekend.

A 24-year-old Christchurch woman is facing criminal charges in relation to the misuse of vehicles belonging to the Earthquake Commission.

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.

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.

Put off by chairlift queues? Join the club, says Ben Taylor.

Patrice Gaffaney enjoys the pleasures of a day-long TranzAlpine rail trip through the scenic wonders of the Southern Alps.

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.

Shannon Weir has been inundated with support and generosity after having her car stolen while going through a traumatic birth.

The ongoing impacts of the Canterbury earthquakes are disproportionately impacting children from low-income families, with health problems and family violence on the rise, a new report says.

A lifestyle block farmer who bashed two pigs with a heavy steel bar in a "prolonged and violent attack" in front of an upset teenage boy has been jailed today.

About 1500 litres of aviation fuel leaked into Lyttelton Harbour after a storage tank was damaged by a landslip during the storm that hit the area earlier this week.