The weather's not looking that flash for the South Island on Christmas Day. Heavy rain's forecast for the West Coast and inland Canterbury, while showers with thunder and possibly hail could hit parts of Otago and Southland. MetService said a front was moving northwards over the South Island into early Christmas morning, but would then become slow moving around the northern parts of the island. Meanwhile, orange heavy rain warnings are in place for the ranges in Buller, Westland and Grey districts (from Arthur's Pass northwards) and the Canterbury Headwaters (also from Arthur's Pass northwards) from early this morning, with thunderstorms possible. Heavy rain watches have been issued for the Tasman District, the ranges of the Westland District (from Mount Cook to Arthur's Pass), and the Canterbury Headwaters (also from Mount Cook to Arthur's Pass).

The owners of the holiday home weren’t there at the time but had been planning to head there soon. A light aircraft has crashed into the side of a house on the Coromandel Peninsula. Photo / SuppliedA person on the Pāuanui Summit who saw the incident unfold said the aircraft was taking off when things went wrong. Pāuanui Beach Aerodrome is a small aerodrome located in the middle of the beach township. Fire and Emergency and the Pāuanui Beach Aerodrome have been approached for comment.

Photo: RNZThe High Court has ruled Canterbury's regional council erred when it allowed farms to discharge nitrates and other pollution without resource consents, but stopped short of ordering it to change the rule. Council's rule-making found lackingJustice Mander found the regional council, Environment Canterbury (ECan), failed to properly consider and apply section 70 of the Resource Management Act (RMA) when it included the rule allowing some farming nutrient discharges as permitted activities. The rule - rule 5.63 (Incidental Nutrient Discharges) - had "cemented the conditions for ongoing intensive farming even as nitrate pollution was already mounting", Hall said. The organisation sought the removal of the rule, as well as other declarations about the law, but the court declined. RNZ has approached the regional council for comment.

The weather's not looking that flash for the South Island on Christmas Day. Heavy rain's forecast for the West Coast, while showers with thunder and possibly hail could hit parts of Otago and Southland. MetService said a front was moving northwards over the South Island into early Christmas morning, but would then become slow moving around the northern parts of the island. Meanwhile, orange heavy rain warnings are in place for the ranges in Buller, Westland and Grey districts (from Arthur's Pass northwards) and the Canterbury Headwaters (also from Arthur's Pass northwards) from early this morning, with thunderstorms possible. Heavy rain watches have been issued for the Tasman District, the ranges of the Westland District (from Mount Cook to Arthur's Pass), and the Canterbury Headwaters (also from Mount Cook to Arthur's Pass).

US President Donald Trump has weighed in on media topics at Christmas time. US President takes aim at comedian Colbert in posts about broadcast media networksUS President Donald Trump has weighed in on media topics at Christmas time. Photo / Getty ImagesAt Christmas, United States President Donald Trump has unleashed a fresh blast of vitriol at late-night comedy talk shows. In a late night Truth Social post, Trump wrote that Colbert “has actually gotten worse” since being “terminated by CBS, but left out to dry”. CBS should, ‘put him to sleep,’ NOW,” Trump wrote.

Two people are injured after a Christmas Eve stabbing in a Waikato town. Two people are injured after a Christmas Eve stabbing in a Waikato town. Photo / NZMETwo people have been taken to hospital after a Christmas Eve double stabbing in a Waikato town. Emergency services received reports of a stabbing at a commercial premises on Market St, Ngāruawāhia, at around 11pm, a police spokesperson said. A Hato Hone St John spokesperson said the two people were taken to hospital in a serious condition.

The goal would be to create a free economic zone that is not controlled by either military, Zelenskyy said. Zelenskyy previously said that if Ukrainian forces were to withdraw from any territory, it would only be logical for Russian forces to withdraw the same amount. Zelenskyy also said the current draft includes a peacetime Ukrainian military of 800,000 troops. Two prominent Russian military bloggers pointed fingers at Ukrainian and European special services, blaming them for the attack and attempting to destabilise Russia from within. Another war reporter, Alexander Kots, wrote that the explosion “clearly bears the mocking signature” of special services from Ukraine and Britain.

Afternoon Headlines | Calls for UN reform as US does not pay its dues, and body found in search for missing rock fisher | Wednesday, December 24, 2025Already a subscriber? Sign in hereAccess to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. One critical, one serious after Christmas morning crash in Tolaga BayOne person is fighting for life and another is in a serious condition after a crash in Tolaga Bay on the east coast. Emergency crews were called to Waiapu Rd at 12.55am after a car hit a tree, a police spokesperson said. Fire and Emergency NZ assisted in helping to remove one of them from the car.

Janssen told Cowan his own humble background has given him an appreciation for the less flashy parts of Aotearoa. “My parents were Dutch and my mother and three brothers came, and it was a really big thing for them. They said they were really good to us when we came here, and that Huntly was good to my parents and they were very loyal to it. And there was always an ice cream!”Now well into his 70s, Janssen reckons he’s seen most of the country. Real Life is a weekly interview show where John Cowan speaks with prominent guests about their life, upbringing, and the way they see the world.

A secondary and localised transmission issue impacting customers in Canterbury caused the prolonged issues last night. Pixelation and audio issues continue into the second day. Photo / 123RF“Unfortunately, this coincided with a secondary and localised transmission issue that impacted Freeview reception in Canterbury on Three, Bravo, Eden, Rush and HGTV. Viewers fume over glitchesOne affected viewer told the Herald they thought the “TV was going to blow up and disintegrate”. “I thought the TV might be dying.”Another woman who had just bought a new TV just weeks earlier thought her model was faulty.

“I’m looking forward to going to see some alligators on Christmas Day, because I don’t get to see them very often.”Bird keeper Rebecca Nash. Between feedings, Nash is looking forward to getting together with her co-workers for some Christmas ham and fun times, and to seeing friends for some more Christmas cheer after work. Despite the inconvenience of having to work Christmas Day, it can be a lot of fun. Photo / Jason Oxenham“Out of my nine Christmases at Auckland Zoo I’ve worked eight, and I love it,” Dickey said. “I love being here and I love getting to hang out not only with my own team but the wider zoo team.

After the All Blacks’ Northern Tour last month, Barrett’s wife, Hannah, who is pregnant with their third child, joined him in Europe. Photo / Paul MenezesEducation and Immigration Minister Erica Stanford’s influence in Auckland’s society circles has been impossible to ignore this year. Photo / Warren BucklandWe interviewed former Labour Cabinet Minister Stuart Nash mid-year, about his new business, Nash Kelly Global, a partnership with Kiwi forestry tycoon Andrew Kelly. The year’s best society wedding was also the first of 2025. In 2012 he took over Spy at the Herald on Sunday, which has since evolved into Society Insider.

Boris and SPCA Nelson staff member Carmen Torrance. Night raid at the SPCAPolice said a large number of animals were released in the night raid on February 16. Nelson centre manager Amy Sturkenboom said all the animals were found within a couple of days, except Boris. Simba, the Bullmastiff Rottweiler cross, was among the animals set free to roam Nelson after a break-in at the SPCA. Sturkenboom told NZME at the time that four kittens being treated for giardia were released but discovered later hiding in a storage area.

If you’re not having more people coming in, moving around, spending, doing stuff, it makes it harder. If you look at the national house price numbers, that’s pretty flat for the year. “It’s always difficult looking at the official GDP numbers because they told us that the second quarter in particular was very, very weak. So it’s difficult to get an accurate read, I think, on what’s been happening with the economy just from looking at those figures. “All of that relates to the fact that the spending numbers we are seeing are looking better.

Aucklanders enjoying their Christmas lunch will also be in for a mainly fine day with the chance of an afternoon shower forecast to hit north of the city. Christchurch is set for mainly fine weather with noticeable clouds and strengthening winds in the afternoon, which may impact any outdoor barbecue plans. Watches and warningsThe ranges of the Buller District are under an orange heavy rain warning from 6am today until 6am Boxing Day. The ranges of the Westland and Grey districts from Arthurs Pass northwards and the Canterbury Headwaters from Arthurs Pass northwards are under the same warning until 9pm tonight. A heavy rain watch is also in place for Canterbury Headwaters from Mt Cook to Arthurs Pass until 5pm.