Canterbury

Salmon, ham, barbecued Brazilian beef, oysters and ambrosia dessert are among the offerings.

Americans Kurt Blair and Carlos Romero and an unnamed Canadian national have been missing since 2 December.

A Christchurch grandmother is now confident Christmas will be a good day, after receiving a hamper of food and presents from a Christchurch Methodist Mission programme.

Police say a missing Christchurch woman and her two children have been found safe.

Police are warning people to drive carefully this holiday season after four people have died on the roads in the past 24 hours. Audio

Red-meat co-op Alliance says it will be an "emotional time" for the 55 remaining meat workers at its Smithfield plant today.

The Marlborough Equestrian Park made a request for the irrigation system to the council's Long Term Plan earlier this year.

Canterbury will be under a total fire ban from midday on Monday.

A change in irrigation practices likely contributed to nitrate spikes in Waimate's drinking water, but ratepayers could foot the bill in the long-term.

Clive Gordon repeatedly drove through a large black-billed gull colony, destroying their nests.

It comes after about 650 households were issued a do-not-drink notice due to nitrate levels.

Multiple injuries were reported, including one person in a serious condition who had to be transported to hospital.

The scrub fire at Taylors Mistake was reported shortly after midnight.

Fire-weary Canterbury should get a much-needed respite from high temperatures and gales as a change in the weather arrives, while much of the motu has had a warm start to the weekend, MetService says.

FENZ is reminding people in Canterbury not to spark new wildfires, with hot and windy weather expected this weekend.

A teenager appears to be lucky to be alive after climbing a power pylon in Christchurch.

Thursday's blaze quickly spread to 30 hectares because of hot, dry conditions. Audio

Firefighters from four brigades responded to a grass fire in the suburb of Yaldhurst.