Police are hunting a woman dressed in a large overcoat who strode into the Lakes Districts Museum and stole a large silk kimono.

Jarrod Allan Mangles, who murdered Arrowtown woman Maureen McKinnel 25 years ago, has been declined parole as he "poses an undue risk to the safety of the community".

Queenstown Police are appealing for help catching a thief who has stolen women's clothing from an Arrowtown address - on two separate occasions.

A strong magnitude 5.3 earthquake has rocked much of the West Coast and Otago this morning.

As you drive up the long tree-lined road into Millbrook Resort, you get the eerie sensation that you're leaving the world behind you.