Emergency services responded rapidly and worked well together during the February 22 earthquake in Christchurch last year, an independent review has concluded.

Eight elderly people who were injured when their van rolled in Northland have been discharged from hospital tonight. An elderly woman was killed in the crash.

Police are investigating the death of a five-month-old baby girl in Hamilton yesterday.

A woman who died when she was hit by a train today near Ashburton had been the subject of a police pursuit earlier this morning.

Three couples have been injured in a head-on crash on the Coromandel Peninsula this afternoon, one seriously.

Ambulances will no longer be sent to minor 111 calls as part of sweeping changes to help stem St John's $15 million-a-year loss.