Latest from Christchurch

South Canterbury battered by thunder and lightning, heading for Christchurch
Metservice is forecasting temperatures will reach 17C throughout the day in Christchurch.

30 new social housing units open in Christchurch, 60 more to come
The site at 356-402 Brougham St was previously a large social housing complex

Lockdown finger-licker fined for 'astonishing lapse of judgment'
The man licked his fingers and wiped them down the reception window of his workplace.

Lightning strikes logs causing fire in South Canterbury
Emergency services were called to the fire on Levels Valley Rd at about 12.30pm.

Singapore teenager caught planning to imitate Christchurch mosque attacks
The youth was planning to use a machete against Muslims at two Singapore mosques.

Climate activists block tracks in protest of coal transportation
Climate activist: "We're here to tell KiwiRail to stop hauling coal."

Sinkhole on West Coast a 'wake-up call'
A man at the Brunner Workingmen's Club exposed an underground cavern on the weekend.

'Greedsters': Climate activists disrupt council meeting in protest against airport plans
The group is protesting the council's plans to build a new airport at Tarras.

What not to do on your holidays - Tourism NZ
Before Covid, Roys Peak was one of the most Instagrammed spots in New Zealand.

Putting the 'h' in Wakatipu: Council likely to change spelling
The correct spelling, "Whakatipu", is pronounced in English with a "ph" at the start.

'Shocked': Mum asked to move while breastfeeding at public pool
"God forbid a splash of my breast milk gets into the pool," the mother said.

Summer scorcher: Parts of South Island up to 36C
Blenheim hit 36.1C at 4pm, smashing its January temperature record set in 1972.

Lotto scraps Six60 scratchies after uproar
Lotto NZ will remove its Six60 scratchies from sale after public backlash.

Gasfitter to pay $190k over shower blunder that killed boy
Jesse Samuel's death has "ripped me apart", mum says.

Ventilation device installed 2000m up Pike River drift
The device, VCD2, was installed on Tuesday.

Man accused of arson after fire damages 105-year-old mansion
Owners 'devastated' by early-morning blaze.

Christchurch mayor responds to criticism of cycleway plan
The owners of the Copenhagen Bakery are unhappy with the loss of car parks.

Abandoned house fire: Property often visited by young trespassers having parties
Emergency services were alerted to the blaze in Fendalton at about 2.15am.

Sam Neill shares laughs and vino with comedian pal
Sam Neill shares a glass of pinot noir with funny man Russell Howard, at his vineyard,.

'You killed my son': Mother's agony over gasfitter's fatal shower blunder
Justine Walker says no sentence will be enough for the death of her son.

Police called after group seen 'harassing' sea lion
A member of the public called DOC as they were concerned about the sea lion's welfare.

Dunedin economy bouncing back, national retailers moving into George St
Bargain Chemist is making its first foray into Otago.

Meet NZ's first female navy helicopter pilot
The 27-year-old has just graduated as New Zealand's first female navy helicopter pilot

'Stupidly hot': Parts of South Island creeping up to 40C
Metservice is forecasting a high of 36C in Christchurch and 30C in Dunedin today.

19-year-old woman named as person found dead in Christchurch pool
Police were called to an Avonhead property around 11.30am on Sunday.

'I feel so terrible for them': DIY campervan explodes at campsite
UK couple 'lost everything' in freak explosion at a freedom camping spot.

Pinched: Trike thieves strike
Police alert after specialised tricycle stolen from charity.

31-hectare Christchurch fire 60 per cent extinguished, crews to stay on site
Eighteen fire crews and three helicopters battled to contain the scrub fire.

Man banned from Air NZ flights, Invercargill Airport after bomb 'joke'
The airport had to be evacuated after the "joke".