Live: South Island swamped
Residents are being urgently evacuated from their homes after two major rivers burst their banks. The earlier high tide worsened matters by adding to the floodwaters. Elsewhere in the South Island, the rain is starting to ease and emergency measures are being lifted.
State of emergency lifted
The state of emergency has been lifted for Timaru as attention turns to clean up.
Kaitangata pulls its weight in crisis
4:43 PM It was a race against time and the tide as floods threatened the small Southland community.
Drunk, stuck and hypothermic
A group of nine drunk people suffering from hypothermia had to be rescued from rising flood waters overnight.
Mackenzie blanketed by snow
4:57 PM Snow is still falling in the Mackenzie after a dumping overnight.
Farmers bear brunt of storm
In the last 24 hours, Taieri farmer Ross Farquhar has helped move 180 cattle, swam to rescue five sheep, and got two horses to safety.
Horses scramble to safety
Five horses and a pony clung together to dodge an enormous tree and other debris sweeping towards them in raging floodwaters.
Photos: Christchurch floods
The Heathcote River has burst its banks and flooded southern parts of the city.
Heathcote River floods in Chch
Flooded residents near the Heathcote River in Christchurch were evacuated from their homes in boats because the current was too strong to leave on foot.
Hung jury in rape trial
A jury has been unable to determine whether a former church youth group leader raped two underage girls.
Residents surrounded by water
The kitchen sink is brimming with water, the toilet nearly overflowing as water laps at doors in Christchurch.
Peak tide troubles Christchurch
High water levels compound the urgent situation as many residents are told to evacuate their homes if they can do so safely.
Baby born in mall toilets
Baby was rushed to hospital with its mum, in critical condition, after she gave birth on Friday.
Man caught with loaded gun
Gang tension is believed to be be behind the arrest of a man carrying a loaded shotgun in Masterton.
Woman assaulted in own driveway
"She was assaulted from behind without warning, while approaching her own car, in her own driveway."
No random drug tests for police
Police are only given drug and alcohol testing if they fire a gun during an incident.
Forecasting the next big quake
It's impossible to say when an earthquake is going to strike. But the predictable patterns of aftershocks can help.
Temporary quake houses open
Eight months on from the quakes, affected Waiau residents have access to warm dry homes.
The road stealing the workers
They don't want to work in the local town anymore - as their heads are turned by the promises of higher wages and more hours on the road.
Wrapping comes off Queensgate
Rebuild plans for mall are still unclear, as damaged section gets a face change.
Aussie tax plan 'too draconian'
A 40% penalty on global companies doing business across the ditch might sound great, but will net just $100m, says Judith Collins.
Sir Yeah Nah cracks open a few tinnies
SATIRE: "I thought I was pretty relaxed, but I didn't know meaning of pretty relaxed 'til I took a walkabout in the great Australian countryside."
Christchurch Central, the unlikely swing seat
Is Christchurch's urban electorate really a Labour stronghold, just flirting with the other side?
Momentum with Peters
OPINION: In the dance of the desperates, Winston Peters is whirling the fastest.
Ngaio Marsh Theatre under way
Start of $28m build realises a six-year dream for University of Canterbury Students' Association.
Labour: 'No more national standards'
Labour has kept a promise to scrap national standards and review NCEA in its education manifesto.
Mental health help for schools
It's the first time an NZ resource has been written on the topic since the 90s.
Funds boost student teachers
Future Maori and Pasifika teachers want to be leaders in their family, as well as in education.
Disability access a 'human right'
The idea of sending a disabled person around to the side or the back of a building while everyone else entered via the front door was abhorrent to disabled access campaigner Bill Wrightson.
Political ad misses bus
Auckland Transport refuses to run ad at bus stops criticising Health Minister Jonathan Coleman's approach to mental health.
'Shocking facilities need urgent attention'
Opposition MPs call for urgent action to fix the "disgusting" mental health facilities stranded at Princess Margaret Hospital.
Health's bitter battle
Should mediation resolve the increasingly poisonous funding dispute between Canterbury health leaders and its Ministry bosses?
Women of Influence 2017 finalists
From the boardroom table to the farm stable, women of influence finalists have stories from every corner of the country.
Cerebral palsy blogger nominated for leadership
Born with spastic diplegia cerebral palsy, 17-year-old Grace Stratton uses her disability to inspire others.
Joan Withers: A woman's place
... is anywhere she wants it to be, according to the high-profile businesswoman, but it's not easy.
We still need feminism
OPINION: I never thought I was a feminist, but three things made me realise it's still important:
Don't spare the cream cheese
Chinese consumers are finding 'bold' new ways of using cream cheese and Fonterra is capitalising on the trend.
Weeds: counting the cost
New Zealand's farms and forests could be even more productive if it weren't for weeds.
Auckland McDonald's robbed
Police say four armed people threatened staff before fleeing with stolen cash.
Baby born in mall toilets
Baby was rushed to hospital with its mum, in critical condition, after she gave birth on Friday.
Woman assaulted in own driveway
"She was assaulted from behind without warning, while approaching her own car, in her own driveway."
Man caught with gun
Gang tension is believed to be be behind the arrest of a man carrying a loaded shotgun in Masterton.
How to stop begging?
The only thing that will get Marcus Pohio off the street is death. But is public generosity speeding that up?
Ex-British Cars House for sale
1920s character building with penthouse apartment and rooftop on the market.
State of emergency in Chch
Flooded residents near Heathcote River in Chch evacuated in boats as current is too strong to evacuate on foot.
Live: Southern deluge
State of emergencies declared in several areas as flood waters force scores of evacuations.
Heathcote residents trapped
The kitchen sink is brimming with water and the nearly overflowing toilet is unflushable.
Slip hits house in Oamaru
Julie Everson was sitting in her living room as fierce rain belted her home when she heard an "almighty crash".
Historic cottage illegally destroyed
The owner was fined $10,000 after he bulldozed the late Victorian coal miner's cottage.
Body in bale ruling
If it hadn't been raining, Daniel Bindner might not have crawled into a cardboard recycling cage.
Quad bike safety an attitude thing
Wintec students look to solve the problem of quad bike accidents.
Terrier looking for a friend
Mocha is looking for a new walking companion after losing her best friend.
Farewells not the focus
Any game now could be the last for several stalwarts, but the Chiefs aren't using departures as motivation.
Building gets new roof
The Gables Gallery's shiny new roof looks the part, thanks to 20,000 new shingles
From reporter to magical nanny
Mary Poppins is just a little bit magical. And that doesn't come easy or cheap.
Fetch not always a fun game
OPINION: Vet Malcolm Anderson offers some words of advice about the dangers of playing fetch.
No random drug tests
Police are only given drug and alcohol testing if they fire a gun during an incident.
Millions spent fixing police cars
More than $8 million has been spent fixing damaged police cars in the past three years, with costs peaking in 2016.
Buzz about beekeeping
Nelsonians keen to learn more about keeping bees can do so in a short course through the Nelson Environment Centre.
Dancers put their best foot forward
Toes were on point at the performing arts competition held over the weekend.
Team turned around
MBC First XV rugby team spent around 14 hours in a bus yesterday, then never even got to pull their boots on.
The next big quake
It's impossible to say when an earthquake is going to strike. But the predictable patterns of aftershocks can help.
Exploring Africa
When you plan your trip to Africa, the animals and environment are expected to be the main attraction.
Power crews tackle cuts
Pleasant Point residents urged to restrict power use as crews work to restore supply.
Horses scramble to safety
Horses clung together to dodge tree and debris sweeping towards them in raging flood.
Stewart Island heritage gets $1m
The Government is to commit $1.08m to the Rakiura Heritage Centre Trust.
Post-funeral brawl
A post-funeral gathering in Bluff on Thursday night ended with blood, broken glass and a visit from the police.
Irrigation scheme 'a win-win'
A $10m irrigation scheme near Alexandra, Central Otago, is going to deliver water to about 1800 hectares of barren land.
Gecko stolen from visitor centre
An at risk gecko has been stolen from the DoC visitor centre in Fiordland.