A three-year old Canterbury girl is recovering in hospital after contracting a life-threatening disease while feeding a baby lamb.

Emergency services responded rapidly and worked well together during the February 22 earthquake in Christchurch last year, an independent review has concluded.

Southern District Health Board's rate of electroconvulsive therapy, at more than double the national average, is the highest in the country.

A Kiwi has been identified as the mastermind behind a viral internet invitation that led to more than 3000 people gatecrashing a Dutch teenager's birthday and trashing the town.

The Government's water rights consultation hui is not robust or long enough, according to Ngati Maniapoto leaders.

Close to 500 breadwinners will lose their jobs, and more than $50 million a year will be sucked out of the Greymouth economy, as Spring Creek Mine is moved into care and maintenance.

The Maori King and the Prime Minister drew the battle lines, with the former saying "Maori'' and the latter saying "No One''. Today, two legal academics explore the deep currents that lie beneath each claim.

Miners were emotional after a meeting with the Minister of State Owned Enterprises, saying he had made up his mind over their proposal before the meeting began.

Bollard bids farewell to his 'cool job.'

Pamela Wade finds different ways to explore the quake-hit city as it once was, as it is... and as it will be.

Hundreds of "battle hardened'' Cantabrians descended on the eerie half-demolished central city to voice concerns over the Government's proposed schools shake-up.

An 18-year-old man charged over a deadly hit-and-run on Saturday night has been granted bail.