A person is dead after a shed fire in Christchurch this morning.

Pass rates for the controversial MCAT exam, which reduced some students to tears, are higher than previous years.

A second US ship is on its way to New Zealand waters, following last year's warship visit.

Pollution experts are being called in to deal with sticky residue left in water used to fight a major fire.

Anxious wait over for 7500 top students who will get their scholarship results today.

A man who denies indecently assaulting a girl during a school holiday programme can be named today.

Details of a police shooting in Christchurch on Saturday night will be kept hidden for at least a week after a court imposed a blanket

The young son of murder victim Alexsis Tovizi is among scores of traumatised children in desperate need of counselling after last November's earthquake.

The sun has come out to play and is here to stay, with a scorcher of a long weekend across the country.

A fire burning on the tracks of the Christchurch to Greymouth rail line has brought the TranzAlpine and some freight services to a

Three ambulances take crash injured to hospital.

Concerts and other events could be held in the residential red zone to take pressure off Hagley Park.

The third serious house fire in Canterbury this week has badly damaged a home. Police suspect arson.

The weather's going to be (finally) glorious for most of the country.

Three people have been treated for minor injuries after a bus crash near Lake Tekapo.

Firefighters were forced to break into a Bishopdale flat prevent a fire while the couple inside slept.

Community Board member Darrell Latham knows the relocation of the school is a difficult decision but says it is the wrong one.

Former employees of the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority will be probed over allegations they used their positions to benefit their private property dealings.

Kaikoura quake damage to businesses has topped $900 million, according to insurance figures.

A Kaiapoi home has been extensively damaged by fire in a large blaze overnight.

Court staff across NZ have been issued a reminder to adhere to a long-forgotten protocol designed to prevent lawyers from "judge shopping".

The death is not believed to be suspicious, a police spokeswoman said.

Police fear opportunist thieves may target a North Canterbury region hit by a power cut today. A power cut is affecting the wider

Workers repairing the New Brighton Pier will be inside watertight tubes on the seabed.

A man has died in one of two serious truck crashes that have closed roads in Timaru and Taranaki this morning.

Troubled schools: A school where teachers were allegedly given "illegal" payments is one of nine under Government control.

An elderly Kaiapoi man who had been missing since this morning has been found safe and well. Earlier today, police said they had

Police hold concerns for missing Kaiapoi pensioner.

A close family member of a businessman who died worth $100m is expected to face drugs charges in Christchurch.

The fight for a better summer is going all the way to the Beehive.