Barrister suing after he was bitten by a deadly spider during flight.

Prime Minister says he is unaware Gerry Brownlee is hand-delivering proposal to bring giant pandas to New Zealand to a breeding facility in China.

Anthony McPhail, head of Southern Cross Pet Insurance, said the business had paid out more than $3 million on 10,000 claims over the past year.

Rugby league manager told an SPCA inspector he was "too busy" with his team to deal with his dog after it was found unconscious on the road.

The waters around the Kermadec Islands to the north of New Zealand will become one of the largest ocean sanctuaries in the world, John Key announced.

As the week-long nationwide survey closed last night, a total 8,743 Kereru were spotted and recorded, topping last year's total 7,101.

New Zealanders are being called upon to help save our national icon by reporting kiwi sightings to conservationists.

Swimmers spotted a shark moments after a seven-year-old girl was bitten in shallow waters in north Queensland.

Samantha Kudeweh, zoo keeper fatally mauled by a tiger, has been remembered as a "passionate" and witty person.

Antivenom supplies are under threat and health organisations are struggling to cope.

The Conservation Minister says $226,000 will be spent on three kiwi projects aimed at helping Kiwi thrive in the wild.

Police have been called in over a tug-of-love battle for an adored cat.

More than $17,000 has been raised in an internet appeal for the children of Hamilton Zoo curator Samantha Kudeweh, who was killed by a Sumatran tiger last weekend.

Officials say there are things that will never be known about the incident, including why keeper was in the enclosure with tiger.

A man accused of stealing puppies from the SPCA and wielding a firearm in a shopping mall car park will appear in court today.

Oz's female cub, Kirana, at Hamilton Zoo. Oz is the tiger who fatally mauled a senior keeper, Samantha Kudeweh. Supplied: Belinda Feek

The head of Adelaide Zoo believes it's been well worth spending millions to become the only Southern Hemisphere zoo to have pandas.

As Wellington City Council consider bringing giant pandas to Wellington Zoo, we take a look at these cute animals in action.

A cat has been shot with an arrow, dozens of cats have gone missing, and dogs have been poisoned in what police fear could be a co-ordinated attack on Wanganui pets.

Kiwi could be sent to China if it helped a New Zealand zoo secure giant pandas, Prime Minister John Key says.

Peta says death of Hamilton keeper should send a message to zoos around the world to "reconsider their continued confinement of big cats".

Group of swimmers shocked to discover they had a close encounter with a shark while swimming at Bondi Beach - after they uploaded their underwater photos.

An experienced big cat keeper who had worked with the woman killed in a tiger attack at Hamilton Zoo thinks the animal should be moved overseas.

Hamilton Zoo's male Sumatran tiger Oz will not be euthanised following the death of Zoo Curator Samantha Kudeweh.

A fox terrier came off second best in Blaketown yesterday when it took on a much larger dog.

The fate of the tiger that killed Hamilton Zoo keeper Sam Kudeweh was unknown, but animal activists are fighting to keep the animal alive.

Samantha Kudeweh described the arrival of a Sumatran tiger and the birth of two cubs as a "career highlight". Yesterday, the big cat took her life.

The woman killed by a tiger at Hamilton Zoo today was senior staff member, Samantha Kudeweh.

A dispute over ownership of a cat seen the claws come out, with lawyers and police getting involved and a request being made for a cat DNA test.

Sausage dogs across Melbourne today competed in the 'Running of the Wieners'.