Civil Defence

Firefighters will soon find out how far an out-of-control blaze has spread in the Mackenzie Basin overnight.

The fire, by Lake Pukaki near Twizel was reported just before lunchtime on Sunday - and… Audio

All work at the Pike River mine has stopped after an unusual substance found on the roof and walls of the main entry tunnel was identified as a carcinogen.

The Pike River Recovery Agency is not… Audio

Fire engines were called this morning to an isolation hotel on the Terrace in Wellington.

Reporter Charlotte Cook is outside the Grand Mercure hotel. Audio

The 2750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate which caused the fatal explosion first arrived on leaky Russian-registered cargo ship in Lebanon in September 2013. Video, Audio

To Beirut now where Lebanese authorities have arrested 16 people, including the Port manager, as the investigation into Tuesday's fatal explosion which displaced a quarter of a million people… Video, Audio

The Civil Defence in Tolaga Bay are warning more rain expected this afternoon could cause even more problems for the region.

The beach in Uawa is strewn with logs and debris from forestry operations… Audio

It may be years before slip-damaged roads in the Far North are back to normal, after a weekend of torrential rain.

The clean up is now underway in Northland, after the deluge damaged homes… Audio

The cause of the Christchurch fire that killed two young children has still not been determined.

The victims were an eight-year-old boy and an eight-month-old baby.

They died after a fire in a home… Audio

Southern Response is back in court today - this time having a final go at arguing that a class action against it should not be an 'opt-out'.

Christchurch residents Brendan and Colleen Ross say the… Audio

The Immigration Minister says the government is considering options to help foreign nationals relying on emergency help from Civil Defence.

It comes as Civil Defence Hawke's Bay is worried a "slow… Video, Audio

Police say an 18-year-old man who made an overnight trip across Cook Strait in a tiny motorised dinghy initially claimed to have left from Porirua Harbour.

The teenager had in fact started out from… Audio

The pilot who winched up the missing trampers says he felt a mixture of relief and euphoria upon rescuing them.

Dion Reynolds and Jessica O'Connor were located by search and rescue teams in Kahurangi… Audio

Friends of young trampers Jess O'Connor and Dion Reynolds say they're over the moon the pair has been found alive and well after spending 18 days in Kahurangi National Park.

Search and rescue teams… Audio

There hasn't been a lot of good news over the past few months but on Wednesday, two trampers missing in the Kahurangi National Park have been found after 19 days.

Dion Reynolds and Jessica O'Connor… Video, Audio

New documents reveal the police knew its controversial Armed Response Team trial was flawed from the beginning.

The police launched its six-month Armed Response Team trial as a way to tackle a rise… Audio

A Christchurch couple says their insurer totally botched the repairs of their quake-damaged house - and now will not pay for it.

Their lawyer said all householders should be worried this same thing… Audio

Huge waves have been hitting Wellington's south coast on Wednesday forcing people to leave their homes and injuring one person who got dragged out to sea.

A big southerly swell sent waves about six… Video, Audio

EQC was ill-prepared to deal with the wide spread damage of the Christchurch Earthquakes and as a consequence its reputation been left in tatters with many seeing the commission as uncaring, miserly… Video, Audio