Where's the hottest property market in the Southern Hemisphere? Closer to home than you think.

Christchurch Police are investigating after a 16-year-old girl was sexually assaulted in Hagley Park last night.

A frightening direct lightning strike at a Mosgiel retirement village yesterday ''caused havoc with the electrics'' and frightened residents and staff.

The Australian tourist rescued near Queenstown said he cried with relief when he was found.

A snoozing fur seal has been moved on from a Dunedin cyclepath - again.

The partner of an Australian tourist missing in Queenstown has grave concerns for his safety.

The mother of Trent O'Connell - who was 17 when he died on State Highway 7 on October 9 last year - recalls that day.

A search and rescue operation is under way in Queenstown after an Australian tourist failed to return from a day walk on Ben Lomond.

While Karin Ann Ross was being beaten to death with a hammer, her final act ensured her killer's guilt was etched into his face for all to see.

Three teenagers have been arrested over a spate of attacks on tourists and thefts from campervans on the West Coast.

A jury has unanimously found a Dunedin cleaner guilty of beating his boss to death with a hammer.

A High Court jury has retired to consider its verdict in the case of a Dunedin cleaner accused of murdering his supervisor.

A dog attacked his hens so this man used the closest thing to hand when he took his anger out on the dog owner.

A former Tall Black and Nuggets basketballer's application for a discharge without conviction on an assault charge has been refused.

The Crown says a Dunedin cleaner beat his boss to death after dragging her out of a vehicle in which she tried to escape.

A 13-and-a-half-year-old golden retriever has clocked up a whopping 700,000km over the years.

A 34-year-old who groomed and performed sexual acts on a young boy three times within a nine-month span has been jailed for four years and three months.

Police are warning Canterbury property owners of a spate of burglaries targeting houses under construction.

Cross your fingers and toes that a tentative forecast for a warm Labour Weekend comes true.

A train has derailed in South Otago this evening, blocking the state highway.

'Why don't they shoot the bloody thing?' asks angry Oamaru resident.

The major threat that the South Island's Alpine Fault poses to New Zealand has been front and centre of a Civil Defence conference in Queenstown this week.

Warm air flowing from across the Ditch will push temperatures up over the whole country this weekend.

Former Whanganui mayor Michael Laws has won a seat Otago Regional Council by five votes.

A Dunedin man who streaked at an All Black game and "mounted a goal post" is hoping to dodge a conviction for his nude dash.

WATCH: The Station building was hauled 400m by crane and truck from a private Lauder property and placed beside the Otago Central Rail Trail.

While being interviewed by police, a 21-year-old cleaner accused of murder stood by previous comments that he did not care the victim was dead.

Brodie Soster was visiting family in New Zealand when she was forced to deliver her baby at 25 weeks to save both of their lives.

Two people have received burns in a house fire in Christchurch this evening.

A Southland Stags rugby player has been sentenced to 18 months' intensive supervision after admitting three charges of indecency in a public place.