A video posted on YouTube showed about a dozen people approaching a police car, which then reversed as people ran after it.

A bumper crowd brimming with colour and sparkles has descended on Hagley Park in Christchurch for the first day of the Electric Avenue music festival.

A woman's attempt to steal a $74,500 necklace thwarted thanks to the quick thinking of jewellery store staff.

Northland Regional Council says a woman whose teaching registration was cancelled for serious misconduct is no longer employed by them.

Living Streets Aotearoa is pushing back against the government's proposed changes to cycling on the footpath.

Currently, some Dunedin enthusiasts make do with a shipping container, no electricity and fresh water from a hose poked through a fence.

Flash flooding earlier this month brought boulders, logs and massive amounts of water down the mountain.

Little River, about 30 kilometres south of Christchurch, was badly flooded in February and last May.

Education Ministry figures showed schools this year faced a bigger shortfall of secondary teachers than previously expected.

The men have been charged in connection with the homicide of Sharlene Smith whose body was found on 3 February.

Firefighters had to free them after the incident.

Much of the south coast has been listed as unsuitable for swimming, as well the bulk of the inner harbour including Oriental Bay after rain.

The gap is much bigger than officials thought, and likely to last for years.

"We jumped in, started supporting her head, called the ambulance ... and just kept her comfortable.".

The grant will support a new role to help women into safe and stable housing in the city.