Latest fromTekapo

Seven saved in dramatic chopper rescue
Seven people were rescued by helicopter this morning after their four-wheel drives became stuck in an alpine river near Mount Cook.

Why Tekapo's out of this world
The mercury is dropping but Sarah Lawrence's spirits are rising as she heads south.

Seven injured in South Island crashes
Two car crashes on an icy South Island highway have left seven people injured this morning.

Tourism success has drawbacks
The guardians of one of New Zealand's most photographed churches say it is being overrun by tourists and they want visitors to chip in.

One dead in crash near Lake Pukaki
This crash involved a single vehicle that lost control and rolled several times on State Highway 8 in Tekapo at about 4:30pm.

'We just want our son back'
The parents of the two overseas students who died when kayaking on Lake Tekapo are still waiting for their sons' bodies to return home.

Tekapo victim 'should have been home'
One of the two men who died on Lake Tekapo should have already been home, but he loved his time downunder so much he stayed on for another term.

Kia ora: Tekapo
This spot is a favourite with Kiwis and visitors year-round, says Elisabeth Easther.

Tekapo: Seeing the universe
Bevan Hurley sees stars over millions of light years from one of only four dark-sky reserves on Earth, from Mt John Observatory, near Lake Tekapo.

Mackenzie Country: A southern trail of epicurean fancies
There are of course dozens of wineries around Lake Dunstan, but I had decided to focus on the Gibbston Valley area.

Police trying to piece together crash cause
Police investigating a fatal crash are trying to figure out why a car went out of control on a straight stretch of road.

Yamaha WR250R: Tough nut's happy trails
Trail bikes are 10 a penny. But what you need for the Yamaha-sponsored three-day South Island Safari is a dual-purpose bike; a road-registered off-roader with indicators and a headlight.

Mackenzie Country: Saddle safari
Jacqui Madelin spots sheep and scores great views on a bike adventure in steep MacKenzie Country.

Mackenzie Country: Magic among the mountains
Photographer Sarah Ivey, who grew up in the Mackenzie Country, uses her camera to introduce the rugged beauty of a place few New Zealanders have visited.