One tramper died near Arthur's Pass and another was airlifted out to Franz Josef Glacier this morning after spending a night seriously injured in a separate backcountry accident.

Responsible visitors such as those travelling in certified self-contained motorhomes should "not have the door slammed in their face", says the NZ Motorcaravan Association.

The body of a climber has been found after a locator beacon was activated yesterday.

It's not going to be the sunniest weekend, but at least it won't rain too much.

The second man to walk on the moon has been evacuated from Antarctica to New Zealand suffering respiratory problems.

In a meeting with residents last night, Civil Defence staff confirmed two thirds of the village can't return to their homes just yet.

Animal control officers were alerted to a "large, rogue goat" that was reported disrupting traffic in Oamaru.

The West Coast DHB says it's not responsible for ensuring its own birthing facility in Westport has enough midwives.

Pike River Mine protesters ramped up their action this morning, fired up after a frustrating meeting with Solid Energy management in Greymouth yesterday.

A man who ran over a family of ducks in Queenstown contacted police after the incident received national media coverage yesterday.

Pike River families say a meeting with Solid Energy's new boss over re-entering the mine was "insulting".

A dream to run a surf school from a new seaside home is out of reach after the earthquake left a Kaikoura family out of pocket.

One person died in a mid-morning crash between two trucks on the busy State Highway 65 near Springs Junction.

"Gobsmacking" drone footage has captured an up-close view of a massive canyon created near Mt Lyford by this month's 7.8 Kaikoura earthquake.

A 40-year-old man had been charged with arson after three fires in Dunedin overnight.

Judge allows media to take photo of All Blacks test streaker in court: "He was happy to be filmed and watched by millions around the world..."

INTERACTIVE: Dams created by landslides in this month's 7.8 quake have been pin-pointed on a detailed new map created by GNS Science and Environment Canterbury.

The falcon comes straight at me. I can see its big eyes fixed on me as it approaches on a dead level and silent flight path, like a feathered attack drone.

GeoNet technicians reach new heights of Kiwi ingenuity as they work in the quake zone. .

Puzzled roadworkers got a surprise when they learned who was playing with their cones.

The New Zealand Transport Agency is taking over control of what's become the Kaikoura Emergency Access Road along the old State Highway 70.

Public toilet funding has been redirected to the Springs Junction loos which are struggling to cope with increased demand as traffic is diverted away from quake-damaged areas.

A feline passenger in a car which crashed in the Buller Gorge this morning ended up going to hospital by ambulance with its owner.

The Pike River Mine protest entered its 15th day today, with a second leading mine specialist backing a drift re-entry.

The new Westland District Council has rejected plans for a $6.5 million wastewater treatment plant at Franz Josef Glacier.

A truck and car were involved in a serious accident north of Christchurch this morning.

One of the men allegedly behind the Dunedin burglary of a huge weapons cache can now be named.

Scientists working in North Canterbury have captured incredible images showing the fractures in the landscape wrought by this month's 7.8 Kaikoura Earthquake.

Tower posted a wider annual loss as the general insurer set aside $25.3 million for provisions.

Compared to other fibres, yak wool is more sustainable because yaks aren't farmed specifically for wool.