A man is being hunted by police after he was filmed apparently dumping a dead puppy in a Christchurch creek.

Five people were taken to hospital after a crash in Kaiapoi, Canterbury, this morning.

The claim by the Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party that CERA's powers could be used to relax cannabis laws in the region has been rubbished.

A person is believed to have died in a workplace incident at Port Lyttelton today.

"Whatever we pointed out - he said, 'no that's historical." A Christchurch couple say an EQC engineer who assessed their house falsely told them it was safe.

A Christchurch landlord who falsified earthquake repair claims - even using her cat's name to sign a forged invoice - has offered to repay all the stolen money.

A pregnant woman who read text messages to another woman on the phone of her passed out partner was so enraged that she chucked a knife at him that imbedded in his skull.

A crash driver has been found guilty today of causing the death of his friend and leaving him to die on the side of the road — but not guilty of a more serious charge that alcohol was likely behind the fatal crash.

New Zealand's biggest general insurer has paid out more than $3.3 billion for Canterbury earthquakes damage and settled 58 per cent of claims.

A driver caused a crash that fatally injured his mate, then left him to die by the roadside before fleeing to the Gold Coast, a court was told today.

The Green Party would push for almost half a billion spending over five years on public transport in Christchurch.

A Hokitika teenager suffered serious burns after a party prank backfired in Kokatahi.

National's election war-chest has been given a half-million dollar boost by the estate of a wealthy Christchurch businessman.