The risks of illegal drug use have been highlighted by a South Island coroner in his findings on the death of a 48-year-old man who had injected morphine.

Southern authorities are warning motorists to take care today as swollen rivers peak in Southland.

A 16-year-old boy has died following a motorbike crash in Southland last night.

An Australian-owned, Auckland-based organisation has secured one of three contracts to provide home-based services for elderly people in the south of the South Island.

A Southland man is expected to be sentenced this morning in relation to a hunting fatality earlier this year.

Invercargill Mayor Tim Shadbolt says Environment Southland chairman Ali Timms has damaged her credibility by telephoning him on a regional television talkback show.

Environment Southland is condemning its chairwoman's so-called unacceptable lapse of judgement in calling a televised talkback programme under an assumed name.

Irrigators, power companies and mountaineers could all be affected if climate change leads to changes in snow levels.

A sexual assault victim faced her attacker in court and described how his "depravity" had robbed her of her childhood.

Flying debris and trees and branches falling across roads could make it unsafe to be outside if predicted severe northwest gales hit Otago and Southland today.

Pamela Wade discovers Kiwi colonial heroes on the Hollyford Track.

Bevan Hurley tackles the stunning Hump Ridge Track in remote western Southland by night.

The Super City better watch out. South Island councils are setting up a "coalition of the willing" to have their voice heard in the corridors of Parliament.

A man whose 60-year-old son drowned at sea said he `lived for fishing'' and was happiest whenever he was out on the ocean.

Later today a decision will be made whether to send divers down to look at a fishing vessel, believed to be the boat that disappeared off the Fiordland coast on Saturday with two onboard.

Hopes are quickly fading for a fishing boat skipper and his teenage crewman missing at sea off the South Island's West Coast since Saturday.

Search teams will be back out this morning looking for a fishing vessel which is missing off the coast of Fiordland.

A massive search was due to resume this morning for two fishermen whose boat capsized near Fiordland.

The Rimutaka Hill Road and the Desert Road have reopened after snow forced their closure this morning.

Snow was falling in the hills around Wellington this afternoon as a strong southerly blast snow that brought snow down to sea level moved up the country.