A bridal party is reported to have been injured after the helicopter they were in crashed onto a golf course in Windwhistle in Selwyn District, Canterbury.

Many early childhood centres say they can't afford to access a government fund provided to improve teachers' pay parity.

Wellington commuters may have to pay for the privilege of driving to work in future with the city council's plans to accelerate congestion charges.

Analysis - The government has announced 10,000 working holiday-makers and seasonal staff can get visa extensions, but some say the numbers are a drop in the ocean and come too late, Gill Bonnett writes.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says she was not consulted on a film about the Christchurch terror attacks, intended to centre on her response.

Declassified documents released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs show the political ramifications New Zealand faced for hosting the 1981 Springboks Tour.

The Drug Foundation is welcoming the opening of a new Alcohol and Drug Treatment Court, but wants to see funding matched for prevention services.

Labour's Rangitata MP has admitted the timing for the announcement of a new $785 million cycling and walking bridge in Auckland was poor, but is defending the government's Canterbury flooding response.

A person has died after the boat they were in capsized at the Kaituna River mouth in Paengaroa, Bay of Plenty.

Timaru's mayor is vying for the district to be at the centre of New Zealand's new Antarctic build, 3723km south of the Canterbury town.

Four people have been injured, one seriously, in a two-car crash in the Clutha District.

The government is hailing the opening of a third Alcohol and Drug Court as a way to improve offenders' lives.

The Minister of Trade and Export Growth Damien O'Connor says he hopes to make solid progress on free trade agreements on his visit to the UK and EU next week.

Two people died in crashes last night, one in Hawke's Bay and the other in Waikato.

A Christchurch woman says she feels left in the dark after trying to arrange a vaccine for her immuno-compromised husband.

The Kate Sheppard House has scooped the supreme award at the Canterbury Heritage Awards.

A Northland woman was beaten to death because she reported domestic violence to police, a witness says.

More firearms and drugs have been seized in connection to international organised crime investigations.