The official warning over a tsunami that threatened the entire east coast of New Zealand today has been downgraded to an advisory, but there is still a threat from ocean surges.

Civil Defence authorities have downgraded the tsunami warning for New Zealand. However, New Zealand authorities are warning that there could be surges for up to 24 hours.

New Zealand east coastal areas aren't out of the woods yet, with Civil Defence authorities and scientists electing keep the tsunami warning in place.

The first wave has reached the Chatham Islands, after a massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake hit Chile overnight. An official tsunami alert remains in place for New Zealand's entire east coast.

A combination of old-fashioned hard work and new technology lies behind a Timaru couple's renovation.

Timaru police were on a serious mission when they squared off with a 100kg pig.

Summer has ground to a spectacular halt in a number of regions over the past week - is it going to get even worse?

Five people are in custody after a week-long car theft spree ended with a driver jumping into a river yesterday in Blenheim yesterday.

Power is back on in most areas of Timaru after a major blackout when a substation caught fire this morning.

A fire at a Timaru power substation has caused a city-wide power outage.

A NZ woman has died after being ravaged by swine flu for three months. The 43-year-old had no other health conditions when she became ill.