A man has been arrested for allegedly hiding a knife behind his belt buckle while going through customs at Queenstown Airport.

Drop, Cover, Hold: Even pre-schoolers are taught that is the right thing to do in an earthquake.

If people bother the rare penguin moulting in Dunedin it will be moved to a secret location, the Department of Conservation says.

The now former police sergeant ordered another officer to fire a Taser in a 'flagrant abuse of his power' and he was also convicted for careless driving in 2014.

A judge has slammed Dunedin City Council's traffic light set-up, which he described as ''an accident waiting to happen''.

A "spectacular" multi-million dollar homestead on the edge of Lake Wakatipu and the foothills of the Remarkables has been donated to the University of Otago.

Judge learns what emoji are when the subject comes up in court after a man sent a threatening message via social media.

Free tourist access to attractions like Punakaiki's Pancake Rocks and the Cape Foulwind seal colony is too costly for ratepayers, says Buller Mayor Garry Howard.

Buller's Old Ghost Road trail is proving so popular one of its huts is already almost booked out for the rest of the summer.

Deep South could be the place to get a property bargain as prices in traditional hotspots plateau at a level beyond the reach of many first home buyers.

The Franz Josef Glacier heliport is among the busiest in the country with up to one helicopter movement every minute at the peak of season.

A young Swiss climber had to be rescued yesterday after suffering a nasty fall in the three passes area near Arthur's Pass.

Actor and film director Ian Mune slammed the Government today as he joined protesters at the Pike River Mine entrance.

Strolls around St Bathans won't be the same after the loss of its canine tour guide.

Another twist in the marriage saga of the country's most famous glamour couple as the pair fly out of Queenstown.

South Island locals and international visitors will this week be able to visit Kaikoura by bus again for the first time since last year's earthquake.

Rocks have been cleared from the road and drivers should travel with caution.

A Dunedin sex offender subject to ground-breaking restrictive measures has told a health assessor there are more child victims police do not know about.

Helicopters are on their way to a scrub fire in a remote South Island mountainous region.

Dr Brett Mullan of the National Institute of Water and Atmosphere (NIWA) explains our holiday season weather and warming world.

McCaw has been spotted out and about in Wanaka this afternoon - without a wedding band.

A Fire Service spokesman said they are heading to the boat near Mabel Island together with Coastguard.

Police are concerned for the welfare of a boat owner who left their small, red yacht moored on Lake Benmore in the South Island a

A motorcyclist has died after a collision with a car on the road south of Cardrona near Queenstown.

Alpine Pure last year renewed its consents with the West Coast Regional Council, and has applied to do the same with the Westland District Council.

A serious crash has the Buller Highway down to one lane.

The last weekend of holidays for most is shaping up as a mixed bag of fine spells and patchy showers as a front moves across the country.

Controversial pipeline would carry water under land and the seabed, pumped into ocean tankers.

Two people are being airlifted to hospital following a two car crash in Geraldine.

Police are looking for a South African tourist who has gone missing down south.