An off-duty police officer who was convicted and discharged with careless driving after crashing following a six-hour drinking session remains on the job.

Marcia Pera isn't able to talk to media for long -- her phone charger is missing, as are her windows, chimney and roof.

Destructive winds wreaked havoc throughout the middle of the country yesterday - tornado struck Greymouth and Wellington was also buffeted, and flights were cancelled.

A tornado has ripped through Greymouth this afternoon, tearing off a roof and damaging up to 10 properties.

A train driver was unaware that a car had crashed into the side of his coal train near Greymouth.

A visiting plane on a training flight landed safely at the Greymouth aerodrome about 12.15pm today after reporting problems with the landing gear.

The Greymouth Volunteer Fire Bridge had to be called in to rescue Coire the black labrador from an abandoned mine shaft in bush at the top of Power Road on Saturday morning.

A police sergeant who downed six beers and three shots of whisky before crashing his vehicle could not be breath-tested because he didn't report the accident.

Two young kea have died after suspected car surfing at Deaths Corner in the Otira Gorge.