In a separate incident, a man was taken to hospital with serious injuries after a quad bike accident.

Hollywood star Reese Witherspoon and talk show queen Oprah Winfrey are headed to New Zealand.

An ambulance and rescue helicopter are on their way to the isolated scene.

West Coast-Tasman MP Damien O'Connor has stoked the campaign to relocate the historic steam train the Kingston Flyer to the West Coast.

AJ Hackett Bungy staff have won praise from police and their boss for their response to a serious road crash outside the company's Queenstown operation.

The sun has come out to play and is here to stay, with a scorcher of a long weekend across the country.

Midwives have complained that a lack of safe transfers from Central Otago and Queenstown to main centres is putting "women and babies at risk".

The weather's going to be (finally) glorious for most of the country.

There is no obvious indication on what caused two skydiving instructors to be seriously injured on Saturday, say investigators.

Two skydivers have been badly injured after they crash landed during a training jump.

There's no slumming it in the McCaw household, as the newlyweds continue to celebrate married life in beautiful Central Otago locations.

Tourism continues to boom in New Zealand with spending by domestic and international visitors approaching $26b for the past year.

Amid the hurly-burly adventures to be had, Riki Swannell opts for quiet ult-luxe.

Hundreds remain without power in southern communities after a night of wild weather.

A tree has fallen and power lines are down on Queenstown-Glenorchy Rd, leaving the road blocked in both directions.

Whatever happened to summer? Cardrona Alpine Resort woke up to its heaviest summer snowfall in living memory yesterday, 30cm covering the base.

Police are confident a white van seen in the area did not cause the blaze. They are now looking for a dark coloured station wagon.

A man has been arrested for allegedly hiding a knife behind his belt buckle while going through customs at Queenstown Airport.

A "spectacular" multi-million dollar homestead on the edge of Lake Wakatipu and the foothills of the Remarkables has been donated to the University of Otago.

A paraglider has hit powerlines on Coronet Peak this afternoon.

The fire that cut off a small community near Queenstown is now under police investigation.

A campfire has sparked a major bushfire that continues to burn out-of-control near Queenstown.

Three trampers feared missing in the heart of Queenstown's devastating bush fire have been found safe.

Nearly 800 property owners in Queenstown will be sent a reminder to register their short-term holiday rental room or house as visitor accommodation.

Another twist in the marriage saga of the country's most famous glamour couple as the pair fly out of Queenstown.

Dr Brett Mullan of the National Institute of Water and Atmosphere (NIWA) explains our holiday season weather and warming world.

British singer Ed Sheeran has spoken out about his Kiwi adventures during his year-long hiatus.

A motorcyclist has died after a collision with a car on the road south of Cardrona near Queenstown.

Campground owners have been forced to increase security as freedom campers are parking nearby, then waltzing in and using their facilities for free.

So much for Summer - the South Island is set to get thunderstorms today, with heavy rain and hail forecast.