Stories by Samantha Gee

Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po was brought to tears during her first official visit to the top of the South Island.

An independent evaluation of the agency's direct social investment model hailed it as an 'outstanding exemplar of an organisation delivering public services that actually work'.

In the 1830s, the Crown made a promise to Māori in Te Tauihu. The legal battle is still going.

"It's not good enough to say that Te Tauihu can't host, because how we host is really up to us," Kahu PakiPaki says.

Pike River, based on the November 2010 explosion, will debut at the Sydney Film Festival next month.

There are hopes the kiwi will thrive outside a sanctuary similar to what has unfolded in Wellington.

It is the first time a new finfish species has been tested off the New Zealand coastline.

Sea conditions prevented the earthworks from happening before the rain storm hit.

In 1995, 13 Polytechnic students and a DOC worker died after a viewing platform collapsed at Cave Creek, on the West Coast. Audio

Nelson City Council hydrologist Chris Strang says there has been an increase in storms and their unpredictability.

Amanda Field says the staffing shortages, run down buildings and lack of bed space is now the worst she's ever seen it.

"They've been very vocal about how they're going to look after the community, but actually I think they've possibly chosen the worst place they could possibly site their operations."

Work has not begun on seismic repairs to the Nelson courthouse, more than six weeks after it closed.

It says a threat management plan isn't protecting critically endangered Hector's and Māui dolphins.

The species has long been considered functionally extinct in the South Island.

It follows a night of heavy rain, with weather warnings in place. Audio

Marlborough District Council is expecting a reasonable amount of rain in the region over the next few days, but it is not likely to result in any major issues or evacuations for Spring Creek…

Picton residents are pleased to hear there will be two new Cook Strait ferries but many are not convinced it will be any cheaper.

Alf Kinzett has been feeding out since Christmas and will need to buy more feed for winter.

Gamers will soon be able to explore some of NZ's most popular tourism destinations - walk part of the Abel Tasman and gaze at the night sky from Lake Tekapo - in the cube-shaped world of Minecraft.

It was his fifth attempt to be released from jail.

Watson has spent more than 25 years behind bars for the murder of Ben Smart and Olivia Hope, but has always maintained his innocence. Audio

The Transport Agency has confirmed it will consult on the automatic speed reversal of two sections of highway through Nelson following strong community opposition.

The government plans to reverse former Labour government's speed limit reductions.

The prime minister's comment that parents who are dissatisfied with the new school lunch programme should pack the lunches themselves has not gone down well with some. Audio