While the eastern region swelters in one of the most rain-deprived Januaries in more than a century, some western areas have been drenched.

Albatross chick has lost weight after being found riddled with maggots.

A transgender man has admitted violating another man while he was walking home after a night out.

Stephanie Holmes finds a multitude of benefits after an uphill struggle.

A "dangerous" manoeuvre led to two Queenstown skydivers being seriously injured on Saturday was probably unintentional, an industry safety expert says.

A light plane has crashed at Dunedin airport.

A Mosgiel woman swindled her ailing father and intellectually disabled brother out of $65,000 while she was supposed to be caring

Katie Burt's ex-partner was jailed for his chilling threats against her. Now her parents are haunted by her death. Rob Kidd reports.

Southern Lakes Helicopters were called to the incident near Te Anau at 6.10pm.

A man claiming to have been kidnapped by a judge kicked down his cell door before police pepper-sprayed him.

The victim collapsed in a pool of his own blood and was airlifted to hospital in a critical condition where surgeons worked to save his limb.

Astonishing link uncovered between Kiwi soldier who died in Gallipoli and bloodied Turkish family heirloom.

Scott K MacLeod spends three days shivering and hobbling his way along the Motatapu Track.

The financial cost of smoking couldn't be more stark in this image posted online.

The pair, who have had troubled upbringings, have been ordered to stay away from each other for two years.

Glass bottled, pasteurised full-cream milk "straight from the vat" is making a comeback.

A tree has fallen and power lines are down on Queenstown-Glenorchy Rd, leaving the road blocked in both directions.

A 2am Tinder rendezvous has led to a Dunedin woman being jailed on harassment charges, a court has heard.

A Central Otago man who sexually abused two female relatives for more than seven years, bribing them with lollies, has been jailed for nearly eight years.

The Omarama farmer whose pivot irrigators' tyres were slashed at the weekend says he remains hopeful the culprit will be caught. The

Clues left by an anonymous benefactor had hundreds of people searching for cash hidden in a secret Dunedin location.

A woman who accused her ex-girlfriend of attacking her might end up in the dock herself after admitting she lied to police.

Police are investigating an attack on three pivot irrigators near Omarama.

Two off-duty life-savers jumped in Otago Harbour after coming across sunken ute

Wild weather threatens to dampen the wedding of the year in Wanaka, with gusty winds and rain forecast.

Pulse-oximetry is a quick, painless and safe test for oxygen levels in the blood

Police are confident a white van seen in the area did not cause the blaze. They are now looking for a dark coloured station wagon.

Researchers call for ban on ban on alcohol sponsorship of sport

The fire near Queenstown which destroyed 150ha of native scrub was likely caused by a campfire, authorities have found.

A huge scrub fire that has destroyed 150ha near Queenstown is now under control but it's still going to take days to put out as police investigate the cause.