In the eternal quest to come up with a point of difference at wine festivals, beyond the bands, showground attractions, tasty finger food - and the wine, Gisborne ought to take a bow.

Canterbury's wineries are slowly bouncing back from September's earthquake.

A two-year-old Gisborne boy is in a critical but stable condition in Starship Children's Hospital after being run over by a car in a driveway.

"We took him to a vet for x-rays and pellets were right through him", a shocked SPCA animal inspector said of Chopper.

Thomas and Leanne Papuni have waited months for the truth about the killing of their 11-year-old son Triston by a 12-year-old relative.

Using tear gas, the Armed Offenders Squad today arrested an alleged aggravated robber who has been on the run since June.

Heavy rain has left Gisborne virtually cut off, with surface flooding closing roads and forcing the evacuation of homes.

Heavy rain is lashing the North Island's East Coast, leaving dozens of homes without power and closing rural schools and roads.

Schools have closed, houses are without power and homes have been evacuated as rain continues to lash the Gisborne region.

We quiz some of New Zealand's best winemakers to find their tipples du jour.