Canterbury

A Canterbury woman who has won the World's Ugliest Lawn Award is chuffed her piece of parched paradise with its all-natural, weather-beaten dents has been internationally recognised.

Leisa Elliott's property may look "derelict" but it still brings her joy, she says.

A man has been charged with kidnapping after allegedly trying to pull someone into a vehicle in the Christchurch suburb of Sydenham, police say.

Police say high speed was likely a factor in a fatal crash that killed two people in Canterbury over the weekend.

Two people have died in a crash in Clarkville, police said.

It is an offence under the Marine Mammals Protection Act 1978 to disturb, harass, harm, injure or kill a sperm whale.

A local rūnanga says the saga involving a site considered tapu has been "incredibly frustrating" for his whānau.

"There is zero chance we will get rid of level 1, until anyone provides an alternative."

The area has been suffering from low rainfall for many months.

The 63-year-old Christchurch man left all of his belongings inside his rented house, and a message on his door that read "farm".

The man lost a bid to be released from jail early because of the effect his imprisonment is having on his 11 children.

Yixia Chen denied charges of neglect and possession of a drug utensil, following the death of an infant last year.

Christchurch's Air Force Museum saw a 36 percent increase in visitor numbers on the same period last summer, which its director attributes to a rainy festive season.

From tomorrow the whole Canterbury fire district from north of the Rakaia River to south of the Clarence River will move into a restricted fire season.

It's great news for swimmers, Te Whatu Ora says.

The axe still hangs above Balmoral Hall in Ashburton, but its dancers are at least relieved they have time to find a new venue.

A new community pool is to be built in the Christchurch suburb of St Albans, 18 years after the previous one was demolished.

Fossils from an ichthyosaurs found in North Canterbury are helping advanced understanding of these dolphin-like reptiles.

Police responded to the crash on Old West Coast Road in Selwyn around 11am, and found two people in a critical condition.