What will start out as a cloudy morning for most of the country should clear as the Christmas day wears on, but the odd shower is in store too.

The best spots for enjoying a Christmas hamper outdoors will be in the Bay of Plenty, Nelson and Central Otago tomorrow.

Top-up a short-term measure, ministry says

Wet weather today will clear throughout the country making way for a mainly fine Christmas weekend.

A personal emergency locator beacon has been activated near Angelus Hut between Lake Rotoiti and Lake Rotoroa.

An Irish woman was allegedly stabbed in the leg while she was out running on a beach in Nelson last night.

Dashcam footage has revealed a close call as an SUV and trailer spin out of control on a Nelson road.

While most of the country is awash with the Christmas spirit, it appears Nelson forgot about the festivities.

A German tourist received nasty bites when he crossed paths with a "grumpy seal" at Abel Tasman National Park.

Six fire crews are battling a "well involved" Nelson house fire and searching the property to see if anyone is inside.

Wellingtonians and people living on the top of the South Island were shaken awake as a strong quake rattled the centre of the country.

Judges orders boss to pay $12,000 to worker seriously injured when fuel tank exploded.

Police are calling for witnesses to two attempted assaults on the same woman in Nelson last night.

New Zealand is in for a relatively dry day today with areas of morning cloud and isolated showers in the north, clearing around midday and becoming mostly sunny.

A further public health message has been issued for quake affected communities.

Plans for a ferry between Whanganui and Port Motueka have been revisited. And pending a feasibility study by the council, could have the Mayor's support. Made with funding from NZ On Air.

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

Thieves stole a number of firearms from a South Island house while the occupants were evacuated due to yesterday's tsunami warning.

Primary responsibility for civil defence emergency management at a local level rests with your local council.

It's beginning to feel like summer in some parts of the country, with pohutukawa bursting into bloom. "People have been getting a

Lotto players in Auckland, Paraparaumu, Nelson and Dunedin got a pleasant surprise tonight.

District health boards report bad stuff that happens to patients

A man has died and another has been seriously injured after the motorcycle they were on crashed into a tree today.

Police are looking for a mustachioed man who was caught on CCTV robbing a service station in Nelson. The Z service station on Halifax

A Kiwi flight attendant has been injured after a severe bout of turbulence on an Air New Zealand plane.

A dog attacked Gordon Jenkins' wife. He responded by stabbing it 43 times in the neck.

A group of schoolchildren made a lucky escape before their school bus was completely gutted by fire in Nelson this afternoon.

Father hid cellphone in bathroom laundry basket to film people naked while they showered, according to court report.

Police are searching for a ute or trailer after a cyclist was injured when he hit two pieces of concrete in a cycling lane in Nelson.

A New Zealand-owned fishing trawler called Endurance has run aground at the Boulder Bank in Nelson this morning.