Jury out in Gwaze murder retrial
Jury out in Gwaze murder retrial
The jury in the retrial of the Christchurch man accused of the rape and murder of his 10-year-old niece has retired to consider its verdict.
Kurt Bayer
Backpackers accused of library book theft
Backpackers accused of library book theft
Two French backpackers have been accused of stealing books from a quake-hit Christchurch library.
New charges laid over Christchurch knife rampage
New charges laid over Christchurch knife rampage
Two new charges have been laid against a 27-year-old Somalian accused of a violent knife-wielding rampage across Christchurch.
Teen takes Dad's truck on 175km joyride
Teen takes Dad's truck on 175km joyride
A 14-year-old boy who stole his father's $200,000 truck to take it on a 175km joyride, even stopped to fill it up on the way, police said today.
Biosecurity threat fears played down
Biosecurity threat fears played down
Horticulture New Zealand has today moved to play down fears of a biosecurity disaster after a Queensland fruit fly was found in Auckland, despite receiving "volatile'' phone calls from panicked growers.
Online sex predator pleads guilty
Online sex predator pleads guilty
A sexual predator who posed online as a pretty 18-year-old woman to lure young boys has pleaded guilty today to a number of charges.
Man jailed for $103m fraud
Man jailed for $103m fraud
A Christchurch businessman behind a $103 million fraud that funded his 'lavish'' and "grandiose'' jet-setter's lifestyle was jailed for eight years today.
Jurors warned of 'distressing' evidence in Gwaze trial
Jurors warned of 'distressing' evidence in Gwaze trial
A 10-year-old Christchurch girl was murdered after a vicious sexual attack by her uncle, the Crown alleged in court today.
11 weeks to create new city centre
11 weeks to create new city centre
The quake-decimated heart of Christchurch will be redesigned by a consortium led by a top New Zealand design firm, it was announced today, with a new blueprint for the CBD expected by the end of July.
Buses will stop as mark of respect for dead driver
Buses will stop as mark of respect for dead driver
Wellington buses will come to a standstill for part of Monday as a mark of respect for Herman Curry.
German gecko poacher jailed
German gecko poacher jailed
A German reptile poacher has been jailed for four months today for trying to smuggle rare native geckos out of New Zealand.
Victim 'quiet and sweet little girl'
Victim 'quiet and sweet little girl'
Charlene Makaza, who prosecutors say was murdered by her uncle, was a "quiet and sweet little girl'' who was often unwell and had to be showered, dressed, and fed by her aunty, a court was told today.
No sign of break-in at Gwaze home, court told
No sign of break-in at Gwaze home, court told
A homicide detective who investigated the death of a 10-year-old girl at her family home in Christchurch rated it today as one of the "most detailed'' crime scene examinations of his career.
Manning murder accused tranferred to new prison
Manning murder accused tranferred to new prison
A man charged with the 2008 murder of Christchurch prostitute Mellory Manning has been transferred to an out of town prison, a court has been told.
Gwaze trial starts today
Gwaze trial starts today
The trial of Zimbabwean vet George Gwaze, accused of the rape and murder of his 10-year-old niece, began at the High Court in Christchurch today.
Life sentence for cricket bat killer
Life sentence for cricket bat killer
A 25-year-old man who murdered his defacto step-dad by bludgeoning him to death with his cricket bat - and then played cricket the next day - has been jailed for life with a non parole period of 11 years and four months.
'Earthquake wallpaper' hailed as breakthrough
'Earthquake wallpaper' hailed as breakthrough
A wallpaper that holds brick walls together during an earthquake has been welcomed as a major scientific breakthrough by Christchurch quake experts.
'Crazy' response to Christchurch student superhero
'Crazy' response to Christchurch student superhero
Masked student superhero Flat Man has been inundated with offers of cash, beer, food - even a marriage proposal - since his exploits hit the headlines last week.
Christchurch stadium to be repaired
Christchurch stadium to be repaired
A quake-hit Christchurch stadium, for years the home of Canterbury basketball, will be repaired and earthquake-strengthened, the city council has revealed today.
Inmate wins compo for illegal strip search
Inmate wins compo for illegal strip search
An inmate has represented himself in court to sue the Department of Corrections for $600 after an illegal strip search.