Canterbury

Three houses and a church have been lost in one of several fires burning in the Loburn area this afternoon, Fire and Emergency says.

A man whose skeletal remains were found washed up across two north Canterbury beaches is believed to have been on a drug-fuelled bender in the 24 hours before his death.

A Canterbury principal says cellphones can better educate students on good etiquette around them.

A 15-year-old has been charged with manslaughter after a fatal crash in Christchurch's Selwyn District last year.

Despite the axing of Auckland's plans, Greater Christchurch councils are hoping to keep their proposal going,

A group of 12 to 15 arable farmers are counting about $6 million in losses from a late hail storm landing in a belt running from Canterbury's Methven to Highbank.

One person was killed in the two-vehicle crash on West Coast Road, and three others received serious injuries.

Streets have now been reopened after a suspicious item was found to be of no concern.

Residents near Twizel are being encouraged to create a neighbourhood plan to help reduce the risk of wildfires.

Two people were found with critical and serious injuries at a rural McNamaras Road property.

One person has died after a crash in the Canterbury village of Castle Hill.

A person has been taken to Christchurch Hospital after being hit by a car following a disorder incident in the city.

More than 150 road signs have been damaged or vandalised on local roads, particularly in the Malvern area.

Fire and Emergency crews have now mostly contained the blaze on State Highway 1 at Waipapa Bay, north of Kaikōura, on Friday afternoon.

There is "extreme concern" about the risk of fires on the east coast of the South Island this weekend, Fire and Emergency says.

Firefighters are working to dampen hotspots of a six-hectare vegetation fire in Kirwee, west of Christchurch.

Rangiora's Mainpower Stadium is asking for a $100,000 a year cash injection to ensure its long-term financial security.

Two helicopters are helping to battle a six-hectare wild fire in a forestry block at Kirwee, west of Christchurch.

It's the South Island's turn for a summer scorcher, with the heat set to rise into the 30s. Audio