Samantha Gee

The petition to save one of Christchurch's birthing units has been boosted with support from Gemma and Richie McCaw.

The closure of St George's Maternity Centre would leave Christchurch Women's… Audio

A campaign to attract seasonal workers to Nelson-Tasman orchards has recruited several hundred people.

But, while the apple harvest is in full swing, many growers are still searching for staff.

… Audio

With case numbers of Covid-19 on the decline in Auckland, there are hopes our biggest city may have passed the Omicron peak, with the rest of the country soon to follow.

But with at least 15,540 new… Audio

The Buller District is still recovering from torrential rain and flooding that caused widespread damage to infrastructure earlier this month.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern arrived in Westport this… Video, Audio

An anti-mandate protester in Picton says the group will not be moving their camp from a public park until the government listens to their requests.

But the Marlborough District Council says… Audio

Protesters in Picton are digging in and refusing to leave - passing the deadline they had agreed on to leave.

Some protesters who couldn't make it to Wellington set up camp just across the Cook… Video, Audio

Westport has seen two evacuations in a week, and that's on the back of a devastating soaking last July.

So is there a future for flood-prone Westport? Most of the people forced out of their homes… Audio

The Buller District has been hit again with heavy rain, less than a week after many Westport residents were forced to leave their homes due to flooding.

The Buller and Orowaiti Rivers are running… Video, Audio

Civil Defence has ordered an evacuation of low-lying parts of Westport, before the already heavy rainfall becomes more intense tonight.

A red weather warning is still in place.

Emergency personnel… Audio

Rain continues to fall in Buller, and Westport is on high alert for severe flooding, similar to that which devastated hundreds of homes in July.

Civil Defence is monitoring the situation closely and… Video, Audio

With harvest season set to kick off in the top of the South Island, orchardists, growers and hop farmers are facing staff shortages due to closed borders.

It's estimated the region needs 1500 more… Audio

The Kaikōura community is concerned its pāua fishery is being stripped by huge demand from the public.

The fishery reopened in December for a three-month period for the first time since an earthquake… Audio

It has some of the lowest immunisation rates in the South Island, but the West Coast is now only 1500 shots shy of achieving ninety percent fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

In mid October, just… Audio

Residents in Kenepuru Sound can finally get in and out by road, more than four months after the damaging July storm.

Full repairs so that visitors can also use the road again are expected to take up… Audio

The Covid outbreak in Nelson seems to have given people the nudge they needed to get their first vaccination.

There are 14 cases of the virus in the region - made up of two separate clusters - with… Audio

The Nelson-Marlborough District Health Board's Chief Medical Officer says it's too early to say how large the latest Covid-19 outbreak in the region will end up.

Currently, there are 14 cases, made… Audio

The government has announced all of the South Island will move orange in the new Covid protection framework.

That means no gathering limits for hospitality, weddings, funerals, close contact… Video, Audio

Police and the NZ Defence Force will now have to be vaccinated, or be out of a job.

The government has announced they will have to have their first dose by mid-January and be fully vaccinated by the… Audio