Damaging gales have hit the bottom of the South Island this afternoon and are moving north.

Well the weather outside is certainly not looking frightful this Christmas with NZ's Christmas Day forecast looking more and more positive for most people.

Film-maker Roger Donaldson has compiled a photographic scrapbook of Kiwi codger Burt Munro - and has his eyes on a biopic of Ed Hillary.

Invercargill Mayor Tim Shadbolt has lost his bid to sack Deputy Mayor Neil Boniface.