Further flooding is possible for the South Island's sodden Waitaki district, where 1000 people remain without drinking water.

Nine tourists have been stranded by floodwaters on State Highway 1 north of Oamaru after failing to observe warning signs earlier today.

There's some pretty dire stuff out there but every so often an ad comes along that's a true rib-tickler

Heavy rain and gales are expected to lash the main islands from tonight, with the MetService warning of one of the "bigger weather events" for some time.

Almost three-quarters of people who think they have olive skin actually only have fair skin, according to a University of Otago study.

A nurse has been struck off the register for punching a "vulnerable" elderly man in the mouth while she was working at a resthome.