Sarah Mason pulled off a colossal upset by eliminating world champion Stephanie Gilmore from the world surfing champs in Taranaki.

Greedy accommodation operators cashing in on next year's World Cup NZ risks tarnishing NZ's reputation as a fair nation, one travel executive says.

The name Nick Page might not be as well-known as Paul Simon, Damon Albarn or Ry Cooder but the British music producer has has a similar intrepid spirit when it comes to discovering music from around the world.

Francis Falceto still remembers the night in Paris he heard a record by Ethiopian singer Mahmoud Ahmed...

The official warning over a tsunami that threatened the entire east coast of New Zealand today has been downgraded to an advisory, but there is still a threat from ocean surges.

Civil Defence authorities have downgraded the tsunami warning for New Zealand. However, New Zealand authorities are warning that there could be surges for up to 24 hours.

New Zealand east coastal areas aren't out of the woods yet, with Civil Defence authorities and scientists electing keep the tsunami warning in place.

The first wave has reached the Chatham Islands, after a massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake hit Chile overnight. An official tsunami alert remains in place for New Zealand's entire east coast.