A man was killed yesterday after a controlled burn-off on a 13,000 ha station in Otago, which was so big it was visible from the town of Cromwell.

A Queenstown policewoman accused of racially abusing a taxi driver in the resort last year has been found guilty.

Mana candidate Georgina Beyer has lashed out at Internet Mana backer Kim Dotcom: "He's using his power and position to seek retribution".

A police officer denies allegations she racially abused a taxi driver in Queenstown last year while affected by a cocktail of prescription drugs and alcohol.

An explosion injured as many as six people last night when a large steel grass roller blew up after it was put on a Mosgiel bonfire.

A man has been arrested after he started a chainsaw during a heated argument at a service station and advanced on another man with the chain running.

The body of a 21-year-old climber who slipped and fell to his death on Mt Aspiring last night has been recovered by a search team.

A father has today admitted abducting his young son from Dunedin and driving away at speeds of up to 170km/h north of Christchurch.

On a scenic flight in the south, Elizabeth Carlson gets into the pilot's seat.

'It was a wonderful flight, we were having a great time.' An American couple have spoken about the day their scenic Lord of the Rings flight turned deadly.

Pam Paterson mercifully remembers little of the night two strangers broke into her home and viciously bashed her.

Two American tourists are now in a stable condition in hospital following a light plane crash in Central Otago yesterday, which claimed the life of the pilot.

The son of a pilot killed in a light plane crash yesterday has paid tribute to his “hero” father’s actions in saving his two passenger’s lives.

A Queenstown man has died at the scene of the light plane crash in the Poolburn area in Central Otago this afternoon, police said.

St John Wakatipu station manager Craig Downing says lives could have been put at risk after someone slashed the tyres of an ambulance overnight on Sunday.

This is artist Colin McCahon's "landscape of splendour", writes Elisabeth Easther.

Herald readers recommended a bunch of great Kiwi activities for Warriors fullback Sam Tomkins. We sent him to see the best of Queenstown with competition winner Dave Floyd.

We asked Herald readers where to send Warriors fullback Sam Tomkins to introduce him to life in New Zealand. Tomkins looked through the entries and picked the one suggested by Dave Floyd - a bungy jump in Queenstown. Here's the footage of his leap out over the Nevis River - the highest bungee in Australasia.

The World Cup final cost some football fans a day's skiing yesterday, with scores of skiers turned away from Cardrona skifield, despite good weather.

The bra fence in the Cardrona Valley has been ransacked, with hundreds of bras being removed one night last week.

The World Cup final appears to have cost some football fans a day's skiing.

Lives were put at risk from couch fires lit too close to houses in Dunedin's student quarter, Dunedin police and the Fire Service have warned.

Peter Feeney finds Dunedin is a supercity minus the sleaze.

A young mother helped stop her former partner - 'psychotic' on synthetic cannabis - from driving her and her child into Otago Harbour.

A police officer was punched in the head by a motorcyclist after a high-speed chase through Dunedin last night.