More than 100 insurance claims have already been lodged with AA Insurance today for damages to roofs, windows and fences from the overnight storm.

One of New Zealand's most notorious female fraudsters has lost an appeal against her jail term for working as a prostitute while on home detention.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.