The latest predictions indicate the rain may stay away on the festive holiday.

What will prisoners be eating for Christmas dinner in New Zealand this year? Corrections have released the annual menu for its 10,000 inmates.

COMMENT: A year after the earthquake, I stood outside the old chicken wire fence and stared in. All you could hear was the easterly.

After Jake Millar's dad died in the Fox Glacier plane crash, the 15-year-old wrote to Prime Minister John Key asking for his advice.

A Christchurch man has gone missing for a week, sparking fears for his safety.

A young Christchurch builder allegedly sacked via text didn't tell his family and for a week pretended to go to work every morning.

Repairs to South Island stopbanks damaged in the Kaikōura earthquake is expected to cost nearly $700,000.

A Christchurch man who committed a series of sexual offences, including rapes, at ''raves'' in several parts of the South Island has had his sentence reduced.

A Greymouth man wanted by police for breach of bail lost control of his vehicle at Taylorville late last night while trying to evade police.

Police suspect arson after six car fires in Christchurch overnight.

A group of TPP protesters and vocal opponents of outgoing PM John Key are holding a celebratory leaving party in Christchurch tonight.

A Christchurch nursing assistant has denied charges of having unprotected sex with three men without disclosing his HIV-positive status.

Canterbury's Highway Patrol is reminding motorists to drive with caution while the Lewis Pass alternate highway (State Highway 7)

Patched members and associates of the Head Hunters gang arrested in a series of armed raids across Christchurch this morning have appeared in court.

The Head Hunters members were charged with offences ranging from participation in an organised crime group to supplying the class-A controlled drug methamphetamine.

Convicted killer Scott Watson is appearing before the Parole Board in Christchurch today. Watson was convicted in 1999 for killing

Scales Corp raised its forecast with the apple company citing improvement across all its divisions and a standout performance from its horticulture unit.

People across New Zealand have been basking in today's sunshine as the first weekend of summer did not disappoint.

Buzz Aldrin made it to the South Pole before he was evacuated from Antarctica to a New Zealand hospital with fluid on his lungs.

Stephanie Holmes checks into Christchurch's newest sleeping experience - Jucy Snooze

The more porn a man watches, the less sexually intimate he is with his female partner, a new study suggests.

Victim was on the ground when convicted killer stabbed him numerous times with a home-made knife.

The second man to walk on the moon has been evacuated from Antarctica to New Zealand suffering respiratory problems.

A Christchurch builder who shone a laser pointer at an international passenger jet carrying 121 passengers, dazzling flight crew, has today been jailed for 10 weeks.

Lotto will be donating all profits from next Saturday's draw to the quake relief.

Watch: Kiwi truck driver Louise Marriott is following in the footsteps of Jean Claude Van Damme.

An HIV-positive Christchurch nursing assistant is accused of having unprotected sex with Grindr dates.

Columbus, who died today aged 74, was the first Kiwi entertainer to have a No 1 single overseas and had a long career in show business.

A truck and car were involved in a serious accident north of Christchurch this morning.

Tower posted a wider annual loss as the general insurer set aside $25.3 million for provisions.