Repairs to South Island stopbanks damaged in the Kaikōura earthquake is expected to cost nearly $700,000.

A Christchurch man who committed a series of sexual offences, including rapes, at ''raves'' in several parts of the South Island has had his sentence reduced.

A major expedition to the submarine Kaikoura Canyon is assessing whether the November 14 quake elevated tsunami risks to coastal settlements.

New Zealand's new Prime Minister is a former farmer and literature student from smalltown Southland who once described himself as "specialising in being boring".

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

Three place names in North Canterbury will no longer contain the N-word.

A Greymouth man wanted by police for breach of bail lost control of his vehicle at Taylorville late last night while trying to evade police.

Water supply levels in both Franz Josef and Fox Glacier are being monitored as the tourist season ramps up again.

West Coast Fish and Game have come to the aid of the Paringa Salmon Farm and cafe, which lost as many as 13,000 salmon after intruders tampered with the water supply.

Job losses have been blamed for falling property values in this area.

A virtual shopping service to help Kaikoura's quake-hit retailers is flourishing.

A 14-year-old spent a night in a police cell after a social worker dropped him at an address frequented by a Mongrel Mob associate instead of taking him to a motel.

Family of man killed in crash that injured four others after a rugby celebration slam ''cowardice'' of the driver.

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.

A badly quake-damaged stretch of State Highway 1 south of Kaikoura could be reopened by mid-December, says Simon Bridges.

A Dutch rock climber was injured after falling 14m at a popular climbing spot in the South Island this afternoon.

A group of TPP protesters and vocal opponents of outgoing PM John Key are holding a celebratory leaving party in Christchurch tonight.

South Island police are investigating the incident that occurred at the Paringa Salmon Farm Café, South Westland.

Two landowners and Heritage New Zealand are opposing a water export facility being proposed for remote South Westland.

The Ministry of Social Development is awaiting sentencing on breach of health and safety legislation after the 2014 Ashburton Work and Income office killings.

Thunderstorms are expected to hit some parts of the North Island today and tomorrow before temperatures soar to low-30s in some parts of New Zealand later this week.

Extra police were drafted into Queenstown after a crowd of hundreds celebrated "Crate Day" on Saturday with an impromptu party.

Summer will be well and truly here this week with temperatures expected to soar to 29C in some parts.

People across New Zealand have been basking in today's sunshine as the first weekend of summer did not disappoint.

The former astronaut, who became ill while visiting Antarctica, has been told to rest up in Christchurch while congestion in his lungs clears.

Clinton Highway in the Clutha District is closed as a result of the crash.

The driver of a McLaren F1 car worth an estimated $20 million could be charged after a crash at Closeburn near Queenstown, police say.

A man who put a 3-year-old into a scalding bath, causing the boy's skin to "flake off", has been jailed for nearly four years.

Some of New Zealand's favourite beaches will be graced with gorgeous weather for the first weekend of summer.

The Pike River Mine blockade grew to 40 protesters this morning, joined by New Zealand author Dame Fiona Kidman yesterday.