Stories by Samantha Gee

The Westland Mineral Sands barge ran aground near Westport in a storm and was refloated six days later.

A Civil Defence controller who has led emergency responses for numerous floods and fires says its the people that have kept him involved for the last four decades.

Stephen Burton had already been sentenced to home detention and ordered to pay $150,000 reparation. A Nelson electrician has had his licence suspended for two years for "grossly negligent" work...

It is the first mainland translocation of the reptiles in the top of the South Island.

'We are one of the many organisations working to make a difference,' director Carrie Mozena says.

An interim High Court ruling says they are entitled to thousands of hectares of Crown land and millions of dollars in compensation.

Tūī, kereru, Tinkerbell and Ant-Man feature on the walls, designed to distract children from what could be an anxious time.

KiwiRail is proposing to axe more than 50 roles across Interislander's operational staff and head office.

Leaders in New Zealand's aquaculture sector say the industry's growth has been constrained in part by bureaucracy.

Schools across NZ have had their names changed on Google Maps, in what appears to be a prank by internet users.

A group of volunteers are working one-on-one with tamariki to improve their speech skills before starting school. Audio

$30 million will help councils and landowners clean up sites at risk of being affected by severe weather, the environment minister says.

The letter asks about alleged violation of the rights to land, territories, and resources of Māori communities.

About 600 people could lose their jobs - and Federated Farmers says "excessive red tape" is partly to blame.

The speed limit on Kenepuru Road will also be reduced from 100 to 60km/h.

The loss of ferries that can carry rail vehicles will mean more trucks on the roads, advocacy group says.

The club teaches kids and adults how to sail - including those with disabilities through a programme called Sailability. Audio

And the Merchant Service Guild is concerned about reports the crew's employer is preventing welfare checks aboard the barge.

The Maritime Union says it has concerns for the foreign seafarers onboard the Manahau, having been unable to check on the crew's welfare since the boat arrived in Nelson three days ago.

An infectious diseases specialist says the spread of mpox in New Zealand can be limited - if people are vigilant and follow public health measures.

It was towed off shore by a tug, with assistance from a helicopter just after midday.

The wards have proven their worth, one councillor says: "Let's be honest here whānau, the system we have had for the last 150 years has not worked for Māori".

The barge ran aground at Carters Beach near Westport about midnight on Saturday during a storm.

Māori ward councillors say their roles have brought positive change - and they hope the votes will reflect that.

Dylan Hemana, 33, ordered a violent kidnapping that involved torture with hand tools.