Hundreds of firefighters continued working around the clock last night, hosing down hot spots and smothering embers from the devastating Port Hills blaze.

The teen was attacked from behind by an unknown male, police say.

The Port Hills inferno was so powerful that it was spreading up to 160m every minute at it's peak, and water firefighters put on it evaporated.

Frustrated homeowners still don't know whether their Port Hills homes are standing or have been ravaged by fire.

Contractors working in the area where the devastating fire first broke out on Monday pleaded for helicopters to be sent out, it can be revealed.

Canadian cyclist Bernard Gendron surprised doctors in Dunedin yesterday by talking after wakig up from induced coma.

Farmers in Central Otago hope a new method of biological control will give them some respite from the rabbit problem.

Reese Witherspoon and Mindy Kaling are jumping for joy in southern paradise as they make the most of their time in New Zealand.

Helicopters are getting ready to go up and give emergency workers an overview of any fresh destruction.

Two kayakers have been rescued after a scary encounter with sea lions left them trapped on the rocks.

Port Hills fire updates: Amazing images show the extent of the damage from the air, and just how close it came to some properties.

Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel and Selwyn Mayor Sam Broughton have defended their handling of the Port Hills fire.

Our forests and other land areas may be sucking up to 60 per cent more carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere than previously thought and we can likely thank our native trees for much of it.

New research showing how efforts to keep pests out of countries are failing to keep up with the pace of globalisation means New Zealand must be more vigilant than ever, a biosecurity expert says.

Bernard Gendron remains in an induced coma in Dunedin Hospital, but his family, who have arrived from Canada, have seen encouraging signs.

As fire spread down the hills above his beloved historic Ohinetahi homestead and gardens, Sir Miles Warren wasn't going anywhere.

It's been a long night for Christchurch residents. Here's what you need to know first thing this morning.

Christchurch braces for a hot and windy day as wildfires continue to wreak havoc.

Hundreds of people are offering beds, blankets and home baking to those who have been displaced by the fires.

More than 1000 residents have fled their homes as a huge fire rages on in Christchurch.

There is no contingency plan if the Port Hills fires are not under control by the time helicopters and planes have to stop fighting it at nightfall.

Find out the latest details on the Christchurch wildfires.

Inexperience and errors in judgement caused the death of 12-year-old Jack Martin after a boating accident on the Blue Lake at St Bathans

Pike River families are meeting with Prime Minister Bill English for the first time this afternoon.

Spending 48 hours in a scenic town with a head cold isn't so bad, Susan Strongman reports.

There are reports of shots being fired in the Christchurch suburb of Addington this morning.

A campervan driver will appear in court next week accused of causing a severe brain injury to a Canadian tourist.

Police are investigating the ''moronic'' actions of a person who tied fishing line at head height across a Queenstown track.

The South Brighton Residents' Association wants to know what happened to earthquake donations for the eastern suburbs.

Regional climate variability caused an unusual period in which some of NZ's glaciers grew bigger, while glaciers worldwide were shrinking, a new study shows.