Simon Power's decision to put Allan Hubbard in a commercial straitjacket leaves the Government "tailend Charlie" for the $2 million plus the Timaru financier's legal boys have chalked up.

A heatwave that saw Sydney record the hottest night ever has reached the South Island this afternoon.

Angus Fogg had a weekend to savour at the fourth round of the New Zealand Premier Race series at Levels Raceway near Timaru.

Firefighters in Canterbury are preparing to spend their Christmas Day battling a blaze that has so far burnt nearly 60 hectares of trees and pasture.

New Zealand's road to the 2012 London Olympic begins in Adelaide this weekend at the Oceania track championships.