A German driver was getting ready to eat spaghetti at the wheel when his stationwagon crashed head-on with a ute, killing him and a fellow tourist, an inquest has found.

Three teenagers had their cars impounded and licences suspended after reaching speeds of nearly 180km/h while racing in Nelson.

When Simon Owen and Kay McQuire moved their family from Auckland to sunny Nelson, they had no work lined up, no friends there and no home to go to.

The average price of an Auckland house continues to race ahead of those in other parts of the country — what kind of property could you now gain if you cashed up in Auckland and moved for a more relaxed lifestyle?

Apart from being home to New Zealand's entire hop production, the Nelson region is also home to a dazzling group of breweries and craft beer bars.

A man who severed two fingers while splitting wood was just one of four incidents the Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter attended yesterday

'Atrocious conditions' were partially to blame for a horror crash in Marlborough this afternoon, which killed two tourists.

A 19-month-old girl has suffered deep bites to her face and other head injuries in an attack by a dog, believed to belong to her family.

As John Key wraps up an important Burma visit, he talks to Herald Political Editor Audrey Young about what he's learned and seen.

Police are appealing a High Court decision to throw out charges against 21 gang members after police tried to falsely prosecute an undercover officer.

Police say they still have the trust and confidence of the public despite blows to their reputation over cases like the undercover operation against the Red Devils gang.

The police will "reassess" aspects of their undercover operation against the Red Devils gang, but still face calls for a shake-up of the organised-crime-fighting unit.

A decision to throw out charges against 21 gang members because police tried to falsely prosecute an undercover officer has affected another case.

A judge has heavily criticised the police for faking a prosecution against an undercover officer to boost his credibility with a gang.