Stories by Niva Chittock

Renowned Indian instrumentalist Zakir Hussain has died, aged 73. Hussain played his final two concerts in New Zealand in June, in Christchurch and Auckland. Audio

A number of countries, mostly in Europe, announced they were halting refugee applications for Syrians within a few days of Bashar al-Assad being toppled by rebel fighters.

World Vision Lebanon says the number of people at humanitarian shelters had halved two days into the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.

Six people, including two Australian teenagers, died after reportedly drinking tainted alcohol in the popular tourist town of Vang Vieng.

The airline and Qantas are among several halting flights after Mount Lewotobi's Laki-laki eruption in Indonesia.

Days later, Israel announced it was at war, and began a brutal, long-term retaliation on the militant group in Gaza. Audio

The government has confirmed an NZ military ship has sailed through the Taiwan Strait, describing it as a "routine activity".

A Canterbury town's makeover is due to begin this year, eight years after the plans were first adopted.

Two athletes were abruptly excluded from the Olympic Games after a series of conflicting messages between Taekwondo New Zealand and the New Zealand Olympic Committee.

Where do you see your community in 50 years? What about in 100? Those are the questions Canterbury's Selwyn District Council is asking its residents. Audio

A police officer says it was an oversight that underwear from a sexual assault complainant was not sent for forensic testing, despite the lab requesting it.

The lawyer for a man accused of multiple rapes has suggested in court that another witness was responsible for one of them.

A witness says she remembers a man accused of multiple rapes telling her to stop crying after she woke to find him on top of her.

Invercargill mayor Nobby Clark has publicly apologised for repeatedly breaching the council's code of conduct.

After being bullied, Ryan Eastwick took his mum's car. Speeding up to 190km/h, he veered into Sandra Loveday's lane and collided head-on with her vehicle.

Ten boys are to be a part of the first boot camp.

Four New Zealanders have died after buying packages online from murder-accused Kenneth Law.

A breakthrough in the study of the world's rarest whale was found by a Dunedin man having a cup of tea on his couch.

However, Peter Scott has been cleared to return to the role, following an independent investigation.

Allegations include kids being told they were possessed by Satan and lengthy exorcisms performed on people without medical examination.

The beaked specimen found near Taieri Mouth is thought to be a spade-toothed whale.

Parts of Christchurch are off-limits for further housing development because the sewage system is full.

A Southland town is abuzz that one of its youngsters has pulled off a massive upset on tennis' world stage.

Covid-19 will now be managed as "business as usual", Health NZ says.

Corrections had not properly maintained prisoner files, recorded meetings or acted on information provided by mental health staff or other prisoners, a coroner has found.