The craggy and wild Main Divide really does split New Zealand into two different landscapes, writes Bronwyn Sell.

A scrub fire that spread across 330ha of the Southern Alps may have started in separate areas, police said yesterday as firefighters battled to bring the blaze under control.

Two men were injured after a truck rolled in Canterbury yesterday.

A woman was winched off Mt Sebastopol yesterday after becoming stuck on the mountain during a day hike.

As hot, dry weather threatens to create a drought, farmers are preparing for the worst.

A father whose baby died in suspicious circumstances more than four months ago is furious detectives have still not told him how his son died.

Farmers and rural householders are being warned about starting fires after a "crazy" seven hours by South Island firefighters tackling small rural blazes today.

A man has died in a car crash near Fairlie in Canterbury this morning.

There are aspects of playing rugby that are not dissimilar to coaching. I believe in leading people by making sure that I have a connection with everyone I am involved with and giving them the trust and belief to do their job well.

Scorching temperatures left holidaymakers sweltering on the last day of the summer break for many, with icecream-melting highs in the mid-30s in Canterbury yesterday.

As temperatures soar above 30C across parts of the country, so has demand for firefighters as tinder-dry conditions create the perfect environment for forest and scrub fires.

Auckland are two from two and rolling along nicely in the domestic 50-over competition after cleaning up Canterbury at Eden Park yesterday.

Summer Herald The Corner Office: Rory Glass is the managing director of brewer Lion New Zealand.

Canterbury's favourite cycling son, Hayden Roulston, will be chasing history at the elite road national championships in Christchurch next month.

Canterbury officials are confident the country's newest test venue will scrub up impressively when New Zealand meet Sri Lanka at Hagley Oval beginning on Friday.

It was the first time in 40 years Andrew Welch had not been home for Christmas, his brother Jeremy recalls.

A Canterbury pub has been shut down for a litany of licence breaches, including a bikie doing a burnout inside the public bar.

A man is dead after going on a crayfishing trip in Akaroa Harbour.

An extensive search will be launched at first light tomorrow for a Canterbury man who has not been seen for more than two weeks.

A stalker who terrorised a former female friend destroyed her car by filling its engine and petrol tank with cement that set hard.