More than 2180 people have reported feeling the tremor, with many saying they were jolted awake because of it. Another person near the quake’s epicentre in Pongaroa said they felt it but there was “no damage”. GeoNet reported the quake, which hit at a depth of 30km, caused “moderate” shaking. “People are far more likely to be injured if they get up and move around during an earthquake. “Research consistently shows that ‘drop, cover, and hold’ is the best way to stay safe in earthquakes in New Zealand – and if you’re in bed, that becomes ‘stay, cover, and hold’."

Photo: Getty ImagesA quake described by GeoNet as "strong" shook the lower North Island this morning. It measured 4.7 and struck 10km southwest of Pongaroa at a depth of 17km at 7.16am. Pongaroa is southwest of Hastings and northeast of Wellington. Felt reports were lodged from the top of the South Island up to around Lake Taupō.

The line between work and rest has not blurred. We do it because being unreachable now feels oddly irresponsible, even when no one is asking us to be available. Sitting still without a screen feels uncomfortable. Leaders who remain online all summer unintentionally teach the rest of the workforce the rules of modern commitment. Above all, we must accept the uncomfortable truth: summer did not disappear.

A California woman has been charged with murder in what a sheriff called the “calculated and cold-blooded” killing of her 9-year-old daughter following the discovery of the girl’s remains in rural Utah. Melodee died of gunshot wounds to the head, Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown said in a news conference. “But this level of criminal activity is particularly shocking.”Investigators “recovered a significant amount of evidence” against Buzzard, Brown said. Buzzard is being held at a Santa Barbara County jail without bail. The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office said he is reviewing the case.

Rockfall has been causing disruption on the roads around Arthur's Pass between Canterbury and the West Coast. Fire and Emergency said it responded to a crash around 10.15pm on Christmas Day on State Highway 73, near the turnoff to Mount White. A car had run into a fallen rock and was damaged, but there were no injuries. And further west on the Ōtira Gorge stretch of the same highway, a section of the road had a priority give-way system in place because of rockfall. It was still in place early on Boxing Day morning.

The city of Yerevan in Armenia. Photo / Getty ImagesA city that lives outdoorsWith over 280 days of sunshine and parks covering 12% of the city, Yerevan has mastered the art of outdoor living and has plenty of spaces to explore. The name Khor Virap translates to “bottommost pit” and it was here that St Gregory the Illuminator, who converted Armenia to Christianity, was imprisoned. Photo / Ash JurbergUncorking Armenia’s wine heritageThese dramatic landscapes don’t only create spectacular views – they’re perfect for viticulture. Armenia’s wine scene was an unexpected highlight and this is literally where it all began – the world’s oldest winery, Areni-1, dates to 4100BC.

She said if you got caught in a rip, remember the three Rs:Relax and float to conserve energy. The calm gap may look safe to swim in, but a small patch of calm water in the surf or waves is often a rip current. If caught in a rip: stay calm, float, and signal for help – don’t try to swim directly back to shore against the current. The rip current will not pull you under the water and is just taking you for a ride offshore. The rip current will not pull you under the water and is just taking you for a ride offshore.

How do you think 2026 will play out for New Zealand media – what would be a game-changer for your company/audience/clients? How do you think 2026 will play out for New Zealand media – what would be a game-changer for your company/audience/clients? How do you think 2026 will play out for New Zealand media – what would be a game-changer for your company/audience/clients? How do you think 2026 will play out for New Zealand media – what would be a game-changer for your company/audience/clients? How do you think 2026 will play out for New Zealand media – what would be a game-changer for your company/audience/clients?

⛈️The top half of the North Island is in for a bit of a wild Boxing Day⛈️Regions Waikato northwards may see thunderstorms, with localised downpours and💨 gusts up to 90 km/h from tomorrow afternoon. Keep an eye on the forecasts at https://t.co/Yjbq0jgaoz@AklCouncil pic.twitter.com/neuy4xBftm — MetService NZ (@MetService) December 24, 2025The South Island won’t escape the wet weather, with bands of rain falling from Nelson down the Southern Alps, through the West Coast down Fiordland, and thunderstorms possible in the lower regions. Southland, Clutha and Dunedin should expect some showers across the day, while the eastern ranges of the Canterbury Plains and Christchurch will have mostly fine weather. While the West Coast of the South Island might be having an unexpectedly fine start to 2026, the rest of the country faces erratic forecasts. “It’s still quite uncertain, to be honest, as we head to New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day,” Burrows said.

Trina Cole and her partner Brendon Cole were found dead at their Ruatiti home on December 13. Man hands himself in for questioning over Ruatiti double homicideTrina Cole and her partner Brendon Cole were found dead at their Ruatiti home on December 13. A man has handed himself in for questioning over the double homicide of a Whanganui farming couple. The bodies of Brendon and Trina Cole were discovered on the driveway of their home along Murumuru Rd, Ruatiti, on December 13. A 29-year-old man was named a person of interest in relation to the double homicide near Whanganui National Park, sparking a nearly two-week search.

Jacob Grimm, 11, about to have his mullet cut to raise funds for Epilepsy New Zealand in the Ebony & Ivory Salon, Gore, last Friday. PHOTOS: SUPPLIEDA Gore boy shaved off his mullet last week in honour of his friend who died from a rare form of epilepsy in September. A year ago, Dixon Cribb asked his friend Jacob Grimm if he would grow out his mullet with him to raise money for Epilepsy New Zealand. "He lived on-and-off in hospital, so he learned how to help," Ms Bangma said. "Things are in the works for supporting kids like Dixon in future," Ms Bangma said.

Albert Town Bridge. PHOTO: ODT FILESNZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi is looking at technical solutions to address an issue at the Albert Town bridge. The bridge is a one-way system controlled by traffic lights at present, where cars stop at the white line to activate the lights. An NZTA spokesperson said the issue at the Albert Town bridge was something NZTA was aware of and it was looking at technical solutions to address the issue. "More broadly, NZTA is looking at the busy connection between Wānaka and Lake Hāwea to see what improvements may be needed in the longer term," they said.

The fleet has still been warned there is the possibility of strong winds down the coast, as well as a chance of showers at the start. Mark Richards, skipper of nine-time line honours champion Palm Beach XI — formerly known as Wild Oats XI — felt the fleet was in as safe hands as possible. SHK Scallywag 100 skipper David Witt made a snoring sound during Beck’s comments at the line honours press conference, with Allen also sceptical. "It’s going to be really on for line honours. "With these weather conditions, LawConnect is not a s...box."

Sarah Williams, 4, does the delicious test on a chocolate Santa watched by her South African family on tour (from left) father Nathan, brother Jayden, 7, mother Lee-ann and sister Rachel, 9, celebrating Christmas at Dunedin Holiday Park. PHOTO: STEPHEN JAQUIERYSanta came down a motorhome vent for a South African family celebrating Christmas on the road in Dunedin. Parked up at the Dunedin Holiday Park, the Williams family, of Benoni, a town about 26km east of Johannesburg, were more than 11,000km from their extended family. It was their first Christmas away from their extended family and they were enjoying the "peace and quiet" of New Zealand. The family had been in New Zealand since December 9 and they had been all over the South Island.

Anna, 19, and her dad Mark Stevenson brought some festive cheer to the annual Christmas Day parkrun in Dunedin yesterday. PHOTO: STEPHEN JAQUIERYWho's faster in a race to the Christmas dinner table — Rudolph or Santa? She said she and her dad Mark Stevenson did the parkruns every weekend, and always took the opportunity to dress up festively for the annual Christmas Day parkrun, to make it a little entertaining for the other runners and those watching. Both said the run was a great way to build an appetite for the massive Christmas dinner they went home to. They were "stuffed like a roast turkey" by 1pm, and were left wondering if they would be able to cope with the New Year’s Day run.