Drug detection dogs patrolling domestic terminals are a step closer to becoming a reality.

An exodus of workers is becoming a problem for major infrastructure projects in Christchurch, with less than 3 months until SCIRT wraps up.

Orana Wildlife Park at McLeans Island turned 40 on Sunday. Bridget Rutherford looks back on the park's history.

WATCH: Dashcam footage shows a Coromandel road turn into a river after rain lashed much of the country over the weekend closing roads.

Firefighters have been unable to get through a flooded ford to reach cars stranded in Kauaeranga Valley, Thames, leaving the matter in police hands.

A tramper has been rescued from the bush after spending a cold and wet night high on Mt Stanley in the outer Marlborough Sounds.

The Dunedin City Council faces a potentially protracted legal battle as New Zealand's supermarket giants join forces to fight the city's local alcohol policy.

A wallet containing $1290 has been returned to it owner.

A world-renowned gorilla wants a say on how Invercargill is run according to election hoardings.

The man police are hunting in relation to an aggravated robbery in St Kilda last week is the son of one of the women arrested in the matter, it has been revealed.

Smoke blanketed Queenstown yesterday as the result of a burn-off on land on the other side of Lake Wakatipu owned by tourism giant Real Journeys.

A Lord of the Rings sightseeing flight crashed, killing the pilot, after he flew low to clear livestock from the airstrip.

Buller people may know by Christmas when they'll get a new integrated family health centre to replace Buller Hospital and Buller Health Medical Centre.

Lianne Dalziel and John Minto went head to head in the first mayoral debate on CTV, but it became clear during the debate that they could be great pals.

A former city councillor during the Sir Hamish Hay era is making a bid to return to local politics. Gabrielle Stuart reports.

Habitat for Humanity's Malcolm Whalley is looking for volunteers to join him in building homes in Samoa before typhoon season hits.

Gerry Brownlee was scathing of the Treasury analysis, in spite of the improved report, saying it was done by people who "fluff about the place pontificating".

A winemaker is hooked on pinot and the land where it's grown, writes Stephanie Holmes.

An international student has avoided conviction for starting a nuisance fire, despite admitting lighting the blaze.

A woman has been hit by a car while walking in North Canterbury this afternoon.

Christchurch pubs and clubs fighting controversial moves to shut them down at 1am feel they are being "bullied" and "harassed" by police.

A police serious crash investigator's report into a fatal accident on the Ladies Mile highway near Queenstown last year was criticised by two peer reviewers.

The French hitchhiker stuck for four days at a tiny West Coast town says he will hitch a lift to his next court appearance.

A 33-year-old psychology student has admitted leaving a trail of destruction following a drunken wild ride through Mornington last month.

A Dunedin man with a long criminal history has pleaded guilty to six charges relating to a burglary spree and high-speed police chase.

A French hitchhiker who spent four days trying to get a lift out of the West Coast without success plead guilty to damaging road signs.

Armed police hunting for a wanted person raid an Ashburton home.

A Frenchman whose attempts to hitch-hike out of the West Coast landed him in court says New Zealand should be renamed "Nazi Zealand". Cedric

Frustrated French hitchhiker ended up in handcuffs after road signs were hurled into the Punakaiki River and locals were abused.

A former North Otago star rugby player charged in a fatal crash in Hakataramea Valley Rd, near Kurow, in May last year has pleaded guilty to all charges.