Fire chief calls for more training for firefighters who are generally not prepared for the emotions they find when dealing with suicides.

Former Gore mayor Ian Tulloch is out of intensive care and "on track to begin rehabilitation", his family says.

Brad Houston was walking back to halfway after his side scored a try against Cobden-Kohinoor when he dropped to the ground.

The Department of Conservation will be hitting Punakaiki beach after reports of people using "kontikis" in the marine reserve.

King tides forecast for Friday are causing trepidation for Punakaiki coastal property owners.

Man to appear in court over allegations he pointed green laser at planes flying into Christchurch airport.

Ashburton residents are angry they're being left in the dark by the council, which is giving away consent to tap into their water.

A 16-year-old boy says he was pleased to see a police officer who swam more than 100m through rough conditions in Otago Harbour to get to him after his yacht capsized.

Police in Christchurch are appealing for witnesses after a man was attacked with a piece of broken glass.

Elisabeth Easther finds herself stoked with a small town's selection of brews.

It's not like the rest of New Zealand, the locals will tell you with more than a hint of parrochial prride.

The teen behind the wheel of a car which rammed a police car yesterday was allegedly in the car famously brought to a stop by a flock of sheep.

Police don't know how long 3-year-old was wandering the streets.

A car and safe stolen from the Central Motor Speedway Club in Cromwell were found submerged in lower Manorburn Dam near Alexandra today.

Boy had to be saved by emergency services, after his mother got into difficulty trying to save him.

A man has died after the car he was driving left the road and crashed into a rock in Westport this afternoon.

Fifty-year-old man had been fishing at the Clarence River mouth when he was swept away.

Pilots unhurt after Harvard plane hits the ground.

Queenstown is well served by flights from Australia and all around New Zealand although you can't beat driving in, the landscape will blow your mind.

Video of drift trikers descending a Dunedin hill has gone viral with more than 3.5 million views.

COMMENT: I think the earthquakes have been that hardship and challenge. They have brought out the best in people and reminded us all what's important.

A small earthquake has struck tonight near Chrstchurch.

River engineers were at Franz Josef Glacier, as authorities consider whether the swathe of land just outside the town can be made safe again.

A teenage girl is in serious condition after a two vehicle crash on the West Coast tonight.

Dunedin Police would like to hear from anyone who saw a car narrowly avoid colliding with a bus before crashing into a parked car in Glenleith.

A Southland driver had a lucky escape when the caravan they were towing went up in flames earlier today.

A Dunedin school principal critically injured in a cycling crash has had a Givealittle page set up to support the family.

A person was thrown from a car smashed by a train in North Canterbury last night, at the same level crossing that multi-sport legend Steve Gurney was hit by a train five years ago.