Canterbury Region

The Armed Offenders Squad member said the attack was "off the charts" and police could not deal with the number of injured victims alone.

A sperm whale stranded on a Christchurch beach has died overnight.

Mohammad Siddiqui and Ahmad Alayedy have told the inquest into the Christchurch terror attack they kicked out a glass panel in an emergency exit door because it would not open.

The squad member said a handover to other staff about first aid treatment would have been helpful - but he failed to do so before leaving Al Noor Mosque.

The horrifying scene which confronted emergency services at Al Noor Mosque on the day of the Christchurch terror attack has been described by a member of the Armed Offenders Squad.

The supervisor mentoring a junior 111 call-taker says she would like to think a call about the terrorist's manifesto would have been acted on differently had they realised the threat was genuine.

The staffer who dealt with the first 111 call about the Christchurch terror attacks was on their "third of fourth shift", an inquest has heard.

A police inspector says he understands why a call-taker considered the report about the manifesto to be a lower priority and says it was not a mistake to label it as such.

An inquest into the 2019 Christchurch terrorist attack will examine whether an emergency exit door at one of the mosques did not work during the mass shooting that claimed the lives of 51 people.

The professional engineering body can take disciplinary action against the man whose company designed the CTV building, a judge has ruled.

The fire is about 150 metres long and has taken out an old shed.

The demolition of an important building in Ashburton to make way for a car park is "incredibly wasteful", a heritage advocate says.

Tuna and eels have been affected by a toxic wastewater spill in a waterway near Saltwater Creek.

Colin David Rath has admitted guilt to three charges, including two of forgery and one of using a document for a pecuniary advantage.

A man has died at the scene after driving his vehicle into the Timaru police station "at speed" last night.

Some South Island residents are being urged to evacuate as heavy rains continue to batter the region.

The South Island ski season is officially kicking off with Mt Hutt opening its lifts today.