Police have named the man killed during a police pursuit on a night of unrelated boyracer mayhem in Christchurch.

Witnesses have described the horrific scene when a speeding car fleeing police crashed into a pole.

A 26-year-old man died in a crash after a police chase in Christchurch early today.

Christchurch police have arrested 30 boyracers who were part of a large disorderly gathering in the north of the city.

A serial parking meter ram-raider has gone to prison for five years but has not been ordered to pay the $415,000 bill for the damage he did.

A teenager who fired a shot during the robbery of a Christchurch tavern yesterday is bearing the injuries of a struggle with patrons.

He's dealt with plenty of sticks and stones in his long political career, but Jim Anderton may yet find that names will hurt him.