Over the years there have been a number of reported sightings of big cats in Canterbury.

Full list: Which schools will get free school lunches?

Full list: Who gets free school lunches in Wellington and the South Island.

Firefighters have now contained both blazes and will stay at the scene overnight.

Queenstown has long had rumours swirling about its doomsday escapers in boltholes.

The largest water slide in NZ is now open.

Drivers warned to take extra care driving to work.

Four people have been taken to hospital after the crash.

The person hit by a rally car at an event in Hanmer Forest was an experienced photographer

"I feel sick to my stomach." Mother says she has learned a "very expensive lesson".

Firefighters worked late into the night to contain the blaze.

Otago town Ranfurly takes week's record for coldest place at -9.1C.

These deaths have occurred in 109 fatal crashes - 12 more than last year.

Witness says police officer shot ram five times

The young chef from India is one of five to die on the roads so far these holidays.

Young man who died in Hanmer Springs had celebrated 21st birthday just 40 minutes before.

Four people are dead less than two days after the official holiday road toll began.

A kidnapping victim has described the night his family were held hostage in their home.

A person fired shots at a house over night, sparking an armed police callout near Hanmer.

Police are responding to reports of a gunman in Hanmer Springs tonight.

A magnitude 4.9 earthquake has caused moderate shaking in the Nelson region this evening. According to Geonet, the quake was centred

Helicopters will return at dawn to see the damage caused by yesterday's wildfire north of Christchurch.

Large fires near the Hanmer Springs turnoff on the Lewis Pass Rd have brought traffic to a standstill and cut power in the area.

Police fear opportunist thieves may target a North Canterbury region hit by a power cut today. A power cut is affecting the wider

A number of schools have been closed due to flooding, affecting some students due to sit exams after afternoon.

Restoring highway access to Kaikoura will take months, Transport Minister Simon Bridges says.

The alpine tourist hotspot of Hanmer Springs, usually a thriving, buzzing place, resembles a ghost town.

On an impulse, Jamie Brosnahan and Jonathon O'Neill spent Sunday night in Kaikoura. The Rotorua couple were heading for Hanmer Springs

The Clarence River has burst its banks, with residents being told to move to high ground immediately, as aftershocks continue to rock the country.