A small stone, flicked off a blade, nearly killed Hokitika councillor Latham Martin.

The male victim suffered cuts and bruises, and the nun was left with a cracked rib.

Elsewhere, Blenheim and Hamilton are set to scorch, with highs of 29C and 27C.

A general arming order has been made in Canterbury as gang tension threatens to escalate.

Residents have raised concerns about the village's laundry facility since 2012.

Some regular customers no longer visited because they felt threatened.

The historically significant wetland was an important food gathering area for Māori.

Another person was injured and needed medical attention.

The White Ferns captain produced a sensational knock in Wellington's thrashing of Otago.

No water can be used outdoors on any day between 3pm and 9pm.

Emergency services were called to the scene on Skyhawk Rd in Wigram at about 7.37pm.

A police spokeswoman said they were alerted to the crash at 12.30am.

Jake Bridson, 23, died at popular Catlins snorkelling spot Owaka Heads on December 27.

Police would like to hear from anyone who had contact with the occupants since Christmas.

The disasters revealed a health system unable to deal with mass casualty events, she said.

Victims need to provide evidence of abuse to withdraw from a tenancy.

A man who used every room in a Dunedin flat to grow cannabis has been jailed.

A man has been arrested after a Christmas Day hit-and-run incident in Blenheim.

Kieran Withers was sentenced in the Christchurch District Court on Wednesday.

Rachel Dyer, Ngaire Ginders and 14-year-old Brianna are all missing from Canterbury.

A search for the missing woman began on Tuesday night.

Jetstar said staff had done the woman a favour, taking fruit as excess luggage.

Christopher Wayne Patterson murdered Michael Hutchings in 2008.

The council said people could still visit the area on foot or by bicycle.

The damage could result in the loss of $50 million in export revenue to the country.

The shooting in Kaiapoi left the son of a Mongrel Mob leader seriously injured.

John McVicar stabbed his mother's dog in the neck and said she would get the same.

Judge calls Pierre John Parsons' offending 'vile and degrading'.

Skipper has spoken with police and is safe and well, an updated police statement said.

Unless promised life support comes through, Franz Josef will flatline, councillor says.