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

Spending in the lead up to Christmas had grown in Otago 12.7 per cent year-on-year.

The driver already had 125 demerit points when he was caught speeding four times in about an hour in the Lindis Pass.

A serial sexual predator of young boys has finished a three-year jail term but will now have to live in a residence on prison grounds

MP fought off challenge to gain reselection and contest the Clutha-Southland seat.

Christmas Day should be fine but be ready for thunderstorms in the coming days.

A person has been injured at a Dunedin trampoline park and is being flown to hospital.

What will the weather be doing on Sunday for Christmas?

A major Dunedin tourism operator says it may be time to reconsider turning away public bookings in favour of cruise ship passengers.

Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher has had enough of the "lowlife who has left their pathetic tags" around Oamaru, including on private and

There was a record downpour in Auckland, a tornado in Taranaki and "quake lights" above Wellington. Oh, and 2016 was likely also New Zealand's hottest year on record.

A bad weather forecast has scuppered the historic Dunedin visit of mega-cruise ship the Ovation of the Seas on Thursday.

Rescuers say it's fortunate there wasn't a double fatality after two climbers fell 200m at Mt Aspiring.

A van and truck carrying a house collided on SH1 near Clinton this afternoon.

Police are seeking witnesses after a woman was indecently assaulted in Queenstown about 4am on Sunday.

If variety is the spice of life, this week is set to be a lively one.

Two family members have stabbed each other in Dunedin.

A woman lost on a track near Wanaka used the last remaining battery on her cellphone to call for help.

Beautiful Portobello has wildlife, great views and excellent coffee.

Environmental Protection Authority report finds a number of incidents on the West Coast including one where someone removed signs when baits were still toxic.

Convicted killer Colin Bouwer's bid to block his deportation from New Zealand has been quashed.

Despite tragedy at the weekend, it is one of the "safest" lakes around, the harbourmaster says, because of the clearly-defined areas for passive recreation, such as swimming.

The girlfriend of a 19-year-old man who drowned in an Otago lake on Saturday has criticised the lack of signage on the shore.

A man who saved a young girl from drowning yesterday then went home to get his dive gear to recover the body of a young man.

Police have confirmed a 19-year-old man has died while swimming in Kawarau River on Saturday.

A mentally unwell prisoner was restrained with his hands behind his back for 21 hours a day for 10 weeks, a report has revealed.

Parts of the North Island are expected to hit 30 degrees today, with Hawke's Bay getting the biggest dose of the sun's rays.

One person has died and another has been airlifted to hospital with critical injuries.

In the aftermath of the crash that killed a young farmer, the sentencing judge said ''this is not a North Otago issue in isolation'' but rather an issue for all of NZ.

Queenstown Police are floating the idea of a 24-hour ban on public drinking in the wake of last Saturday's Crate Day chaos in the resort.