Slips and surface flooding are causing havoc for motorists in the lower North Island as heavy rain and gale force winds sweep the region.

The rate of aftershocks following Saturday's magnitude 7.1 earthquake appears to be lower than usual for a quake of that size, but people around damaged buildings in Canterbury should still be taking extreme care, says an expert.

Prime Minister John Key has announced a $5 million donation to the mayoral fund set up to rebuild earthquake ravaged Canterbury.

A court has dismissed a legal argument that oil company Shell misled customers by advertising its petrol was "designed to take you further".

Swine flu has claimed its 17th life this winter, but the number of people being infected appears to be falling, the Ministry of Health says.

6:07pm: The Midland railway line that connects Christchurch and the Port of Lyttelton to the West Coast reopened to rail freight traffic this afternoon following completion of track repairs, inspection of bridges and the successful running of a test ...

Prime Minister John Key has announced a $5 million donation to the mayoral fund set up to rebuild earthquake ravaged Canterbury.

History suggests Saturday's destructive 7.1 Canterbury earthquake could be a trigger for a series of major earthquakes which New Zealand must prepare for, scientists say.

A toddler is dead after a driveway accident in the south Auckland suburb of Otara.

Waimakariri Civil Defence has warned against people travelling into the area for the sole purpose of looking at the destruction.