Latest from Emergency Services

Traffic cops return in police chief's plan

New specialist traffic officers will be used to issue speeding tickets, freeing police to concentrate on fighting crime.

Fire forces lashed after record heat

Cars crash in 30cm deep offal spill

Blood, fat and discarded pieces of butchered animals were spread 15km on SH2 after a tailgate opened on a truck.

Police officers rammed by drunk getaway driver

Officers searching for a runaway car were stunned to suddenly see "sparks flying and the car heading straight towards them" at an intersection.

Police spread net wide for more women recruits

A police recruitment drive is aiming to almost double the number of female police officers working the beat.

Man arrested in Hastings after shot fired

Police say a gunshot was reported in Hastings about midday today.

Families grieve as two teenagers die on roads

The grieving family of a teenager killed in a high-speed, head-on crash say they will never get over his death.

Towns cut off by floods

Power restored to most of Timaru

Power is back on in most areas of Timaru after a major blackout when a substation caught fire this morning.

Substation fire causes power cut

A fire at a Timaru power substation has caused a city-wide power outage.

St John book celebrates 125 years of first aid for Kiwis

Fires burning across NSW

Fires rage across New South Wales

Up to 100 fires are burning across NSW as a large swathe of the state begins a day of total fire bans.

Hoax 111 caller to pay $13,000

Fire risk lethal as Australia swelters

Vast tracts of South Australia are preparing for another baking day of catastrophic fire risk after yesterday's 40C-plus temperatures.

Gift of $600,000 fire truck honours dead NZ volunteer