A heavy snow warning is in place for parts of the country and some main roads have closed.

Make sure you wrap up warm for the next few weeks - frigid temperatures are set to make August the coldest month of the year.

A truck carrying gas bottles has crashed into a fence in Southland, trapping the driver inside.

Firefighters are at the scene of a large fire at an Invercargill business early this morning.

A body of a man thought to be missing has been found in Southland.

Venture to the bottom of the country and you'll find a warm welcome.

The quake struck 30km west of Te Anau at 2.55pm, according to GeoNet.

The fire was put out soon after fire crews arrived and the elderly Southland couple was treated at the scene.

Karen De Luna is the police's prime suspect in the death of Southland toddler Bea Daleon, who died after her skull was fractured in 2012.

Ngapuhi leader Sonny Tau has admitted concocting a story with his daughter's partner about who shot five protected wood pigeons (kereru) last year.

The man killed in yesterday's helicopter crash in the Lindis Pass area has been named.

Employers at a Southland meatworks have been vindicated for firing an employee who punched a colleague in the face.

A 12-year-old boy has been airlifted to hospital after breaking his leg when a piggyback from his father went awry.

A former Southland principal has won another victory over the school commissioner who unjustifiably sacked her.

A fuel tanker driver escaped without major injuries after his vehicle rolled in Southland this morning.

Neil Stirling is believed to be missing at Glenham after his vehicle was found near the Mokoreta River, about 5km southeast of Wyndham.

Our third island offers friendly locals and an array of adventures.

The snacking is plentiful down south, discovers Louise Richardson.

Paul Rush finds Gore is hooked on trout, hooch, abstract art, insects and music.

Investigators won't say why it took seven hours for the survivor of a fatal Southland crash to contact police.

Flights have been delayed or cancelled in and out of Wellington airport today as strong winds batter the capital.

Police have released the name of the man who died in a work accident at a goldmine in Southland last night.

If you missed out on the free lease of Stanley's Hotel at Macraes, don't worry ... the owner of the Garston Hotel in Northern Southland, is offering the same deal.

Whisky and art are the first drawcards - but Colin Hogg is surprised to find there's much more to the once-named Chicago of the south.

Police have released the name of a man killed in a crash in Southland over the weekend.

Police have launched a homicide investigation after a 28-year-old man died in hospital following an incident at an Invercargill property.

A 24-year-old man has died in a car accident in Southland overnight.

Art excellence award goes to a photo was described by judges as ''unusually beautiful''.

Drivers relying on an electronic map to find their way across Southland are being sent down a secondary road, with potentially fatal consequences.

Council takes leap of faith to give another chance to Black Power member who was jailed for assault and grievous bodily harm.