Matthew Smith went for a walk in search of a better life. After two months and 1600km on foot between Waiheke Island and Queenstown, he reckons he has found it.

The case of Jeanette McNee, the Queenstown policewoman found guilty of offensive language against a taxi driver but discharged without conviction, should not be taken to excuse "hate speech".

From high-end Asian street food-inspired dishes to pizzas that have been popular for almost 40 years, Queenstown's food scene has something for everyone.

A Chinese billionaire is in advanced negotiations to fund a multimillion-dollar stem cell treatment and research centre in Queenstown.

It took more than 10 months for a taxi driver to receive an apology from a police officer who subjected him to a tirade of racial abuse, the driver says.

A Queenstown policewoman found guilty of racially insulting a taxi driver after an argument over a fare has been discharged without conviction.

As an inquest begins into the death of Rutger Hale from a mystery object that smashed through his car windscreen, his family say they believe someone knows what happened.

New Zealand's best produce is world class and a first-rate reason to travel, writes Nadia Lim.

A Malaysian-born taxi driver who a judge says was verbally abused by a Queenstown policewoman says the southern resort is still a friendly town.

There are grave fears for the safety of a Hong Kong woman visiting Queenstown who has not been heard from in a week, police say.

A Queenstown man says he is subjected to taunts over his sexuality, which he likens to racism, every time he goes out in the resort at night.

A woman spent two hours trapped in a car as rescuers desperately tried to free her - without dislodging it from a perch 30m below a Q'town road.

Former All Black Justin Marshall curled up into a ball as he was punched, kicked and stomped on during a street attack in Queenstown, a court heard today.

For wheelchair user Jeremy "Jezza" Williams, travelling from Britain to Mongolia in a low-powered vehicle will be one tough adventure - especially when he's determined to throw himself out of a plane and down rapids along the way.

An Australian tourist affected by alcohol received serious injuries after he fell 4m on to cobbled tiles last night.

Police have resorted to phoning rental companies to remove unsafe tourist drivers from the road.

Queenstown-Lakes District residents are more willing to donate an organ than other New Zealanders - possibly because they are better off.

A popular former Auckland and Queenstown restaurateur was on board the ill-fated Malaysian Airlines flight MH17.

Herald readers recommended a bunch of great Kiwi activities for Warriors fullback Sam Tomkins. We sent him to see the best of Queenstown with competition winner Dave Floyd.

We asked Herald readers where to send Warriors fullback Sam Tomkins to introduce him to life in New Zealand. Tomkins looked through the entries and picked the one suggested by Dave Floyd - a bungy jump in Queenstown. Here's the footage of his leap out over the Nevis River - the highest bungee in Australasia.

The World Cup final cost some football fans a day's skiing yesterday, with scores of skiers turned away from Cardrona skifield, despite good weather.

The World Cup final appears to have cost some football fans a day's skiing.

This picturesque slice of the South Island is not just a hub for adrenalin junkies, discovers Jennifer Ennion.

Fine, warm weather greeted the thousands of people who lined the Queenstown CBD today to take in the action from the Golden Mile and the annual Street Parade.

About 45,000 people will inject an estimated $57 million into the Queenstown economy over the next 10 days during the 2014 Queenstown Winter Festival, which opened with a bang last night.

A former taxi driver has pleaded not guilty to charges relating to what police believe was a false claim he had been attacked and robbed of $700.

Let's call them what they are: junkets, writes Toby Manhire. They might be effective, they might bring in crucial votes, but the whole approach leaves an unpleasant taste in the mouth.

Eleven UN ambassadors are being schmoozed in Queenstown in an attempt to win support for a New Zealand seat on the UN Security Council.