A Nelson father critically injured his 37-year-old son when he shot him at close range at a family home in Tapawera before turning the gun on himself, police say.

A Nelson surfer suffered a deep puncture wound to his hand while wrestling a 2m shark during the weekend.

A New Zealand brewery is toasting its success after its hops were chosen for a beer being brewed in honour of the royal wedding.

Three of the five Rugby World Cup pool matches that were to have been held in Christchurch will remain in the South Island, it was announced this afternoon.

To the children it's a place to play; to the Nelson council it's a death-trap to be torn down.

Have you noticed that Americans call a main course an entrée? (They probably say that we call an entrée a main course, but never mind that for a moment.)

Police infiltrated the highest levels of the Hells Angels motorcycle gang in an undercover operation that culminated in mass raids, nearly 30 arrests and the seizure of weapons and explosives today.

For 80 minutes last night, Crusaders fans tried to put the agony and tragedy to the back of their minds.

The Crusaders put aside 10 days of destruction and despair to mark their Super 15 rugby return by beating the Waratahs 33-18.

If this was any old round three Super 15 match there would be no need for the Crusaders to bring in a mental skills coach.

Mike Brown was meant to be working on the ninth floor of the Copthorne Hotel at the time of the earthquake but had decided to take a long lunch.

Canterbury DHB chief executive David Meates has invoked memories of Hurricane Katrina to justify evacuating hundreds of elderly out of the Christchurch in the wake of last week's earthquake.

More than 300 elderly people have been moved from quake-damaged residential care centres in Christchurch, some without the knowledge of their families, Canterbury District Health Board (DHB) has admitted.

Sonny Bill Williams will make his debut for the Crusaders against the Waratahs in Nelson on Friday night.

Sonny Bill Williams is set to make his Crusaders Super Rugby debut this weekend.

The Crusaders will play at least their next two "home" Super rugby games at Nelson's Trafalgar Park following Tuesday's earthquake.