The first wave has reached the Chatham Islands, after a massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake hit Chile overnight. An official tsunami alert remains in place for New Zealand's entire east coast.

Adventurous local winemakers are experimenting with blends.

Five people are dead after a series of crashes overnight.

Joelle Thomson talks to one of the founding fathers of Marlborough's wine industry.

The number of Kiwis using internet dating sites spiked in January, a poll has found.

Police slam the "negligent behaviour" of a person who informed the wrong family about a tragic logging death after listening in on a police scanner.

An eavesdropper informed the wrong family that a relative of their's had died following a forestry accident today.

The Fire Service is increasingly being sent to emergencies when an ambulance has been requested, statistics show.

An inquiry has been launched after a mental health worker was stabbed, kicked and had boiling water thrown over her by a patient.

A vigorous front which has hammered the lower South Island with high winds and rain will attack central parts of the country today.