Cantabrians will need to batten down the hatches as wild weather is expected this afternoon.

They are the 19 names that make up this holiday season's high toll. Behind every name is a story, and family left grieving.

The driver killed in a two car crash south of Christchurch yesterday was driving on the wrong side of the road, police say.

A motorist is dead after a single car crash south of Christchurch this afternoon.

Police have released the name of the man killed in a fatal crash just out of Christchurch on New Year's Eve.

A collection of rare memorabilia stemming from the famous 1908 Nimrod Expedition to Antarctica, including items from the NZ leg of the trip, will be auctioned.

by Kiri Gillespie FUN DAY OUT: Groom-to-be Grant Edwards spent much of his stag party at the Tauranga Races in a ''pretty comfortable''

Bay of Islands the place to be for summer sun today

Firefighters in Kaiapoi, North of Christchurch, are attending a large blaze near the Waimakariri River this afternoon.

One person is dead following a single car crash near Christchurch tonight.

The Fire Service is responding to multiple reports of a grass fire in Christchurch.

Christchurch businessman Roger Bridge has been made a Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to business and philanthropy.

A 33-year-old man has been arrested and charged with aggravated robbery in relation to a shooting in Bryndwr, Christchurch yesterday.

A woman has had surgery after being stabbed in the neck this morning.

A man shot in Christchurch overnight who was targeted by armed intruders is set to make a full recovery.

Springs Junction - the tiny settlement connecting State Highways 7 and 65 - now boasts two food caravans as well as a service station and cafe both operating 24/7.

DoC says there is significant arsenic, mercury and cyanide contamination of the soil at the Alexander River mine site.

Thousands have reported feeling the "severe" 5.5 magnitude quake which rattled central New Zealand this afternoon.

Police have concerns for the safety of missing Christchurch woman Rebecca Mangin. The 29-year-old hasn't been heard from since December

The funeral arrangements of two of the teenagers killed in a horror smash in the early hours of Boxing Day have been released.

Canterbury Police are seeking a missing man who was last seen on Boxing Day.

A high-risk child sex offender in custody after admitting cutting off his electronic monitoring tag and going on the run.

A woman has been charged with murder after a man died in Christchurch on Christmas Day.

A Christmas Day assault in Christchurch has been upgraded to a homicide investigation after the victim died.

Police are looking for a white van involved in a hit and run which landed a man in hospital on Christmas Eve.

A Christchurch mother who shed 20kg in nine months simply by slashing sugar from her diet is today launching a recipe book to help others.

Don't let the morning cloud fool you - it is set to be a fine Boxing Day for New Zealanders, with Central Otago tipped as the best place to be.

A man has been injured in a serious assault in Christchurch.

What will start out as a cloudy morning for most of the country should clear as the Christmas day wears on, but the odd shower is in store too.

The best spots for enjoying a Christmas hamper outdoors will be in the Bay of Plenty, Nelson and Central Otago tomorrow.