Arun Kumar tells how his love of chess has led him down the path of setting up a passion project that helps grow awareness about the board game.

With the cost of living hitting many people hard, the annual Timaru Herald Family Works Christmas Tree Appeal continues to be an important initiative.

From birds to lacewings, plant up a buffet for them around your vege beds, and they’ll help you to control the pest population in your backyard.

Finding a site large enough to serve both Nelson and Tasman has ended up in the too-hard basket.

OPINION: Pike River director Rob Sarkies says he wants to live in “a society that looks after people – especially the vulnerable”.

A Nelson man says his bike is going to stay in the shed after a motorist blocked a popular cycle lane with his door, forcing him into a busy traffic lane.

Nelson schools among next in line for critical funding as your donations flow in.

A split has emerged among the country’s big four banks over agricultural emissions, with ANZ declining to set targets while rivals push ahead.

A special 11pm performance of the classic musical has been announced, due to high demand.

A festive reworking of A Christmas Carol will star a yet-to-be-revealed Christchurch identity.

Christmas cards will be flitting between the three towns, two in the US and one in New Zealand, as a result of research by a retired landscape gardener in South Canterbury.

A young Hamilton mother has grave concerns after learning the kinetic sand her daughter has been playing with could be riddled with asbestos.

Documents reveal sustained behind-the-scenes pushback from Otago and Auckland as Waikato advanced its medical school bid.

Staff describe the hospital’s clinical portal as a slow-motion disaster, with delays, errors and mounting risks to patient care and wellbeing.

Parents say it’s a lifeline providing fun, desperately needed extra tuition and bonding with kids like them, but funding cuts mean a homework club for children of former refugees may close next year.

Rosalind Kelly had to be urgently flown to Christchurch Hospital after a migraine left her with numbness in her body, slurred speech and drifting in and out of consciousness.

A visit to the doctor can cost from $33 to nearly $70 depending on where you live — and outdated funding models are putting pressure on clinics and patients alike.

Daryl Mitchell’s happy knack of scoring big runs when the Black Caps need him most was to the fore yet again at Hagley Oval.

A modern slavery expert wants you to buy chocolate from brands who acknowledge they use child labour - but who are trying to do something about it.

Cake-making aficionados and novices alike came together to bond over their shared love of all things cake at Christchurch’s second Cake-nic event in Opawa on Sunday. Not sure what a cake-nic is? Think of a picnic for those with a sweet-tooth. Serial events and hospitality entrepreneur Lisa Tran…

Christchurch’s Cake-nic craze is here, with the second cake picnic in three months attracting 200 bakers.

CJ Bott felt the Newcastle Jets penalty - awarded by top Kiwi referee in Sunday’s 1-1 stalement - “wasn’t one’’.

Coneding three minutes from kickoff and three minutes from regulation time saw the All Whites lose to a South American side ranked 72 places ahead of them.

A builder says the damage is still “being created” a day after the storm and he expects a busy week ahead.

ANALYSIS: The Silver Ferns could have imploded after a rough start to the Constellation Cup, but a caretaker coach has put them in a great spot to close out a chaotic 2025.

A two-vehicle crash has closed a key route in central Otago as potentially thousands of people are due to make their way home after the Queenstown Marathon.

Frustration among general practice owners with what they call "bloated bureaucracy" is behind a move to set up a breakaway nationwide primary health organisation.

Police are working to identify the offenders involved in a ramraid at a Christchurch liquor store on Saturday - the second time in two months that the store has been targeted.

A neighbour says he’d seen the children playing on bikes and scooters on the property.

The Invercargill City Council’s 2024-25 annual report foreshadows major challenge ahead.

ANALYSIS: All Blacks’ loss to England followed a familiar script and a coaching shake-up must be considered over summer months.

When Paige Farrell packed an overnight bag for a check-up at Christchurch Hospital during her pregnancy, she didn’t know it would be five weeks before she went home again.

Aucklander Qiulae Wong will head up the newly named party - ‘Opportunity’ - heading into the 2026 election campaign.

Jessie Tonga is part of a growing cohort of Kiwis being diagnosed with bowel cancer before age 50.

Petteri Koponen’s men once again faded late as they failed to back up on their runaway NBL victory over Brisbane.

A powerful final quarter sees the Silver Ferns push past England in first of three-match series in London.

ANALYSIS: The Grand Slam dream is over for Scott Robertson’s side after they were completely outgunned at Twickenham.

Paul Taylor argues resilience is forged through discomfort—not coddling—and modern culture’s obsession with emotional safety may be breeding fragility, not fortitude.

Scott Robertson’s men crashed to their first defeat at Twickenham since 2012 after being outplayed by Steve Borthwick’s impressive side.

The All Blacks let a 12-0 lead slip as they slumped to a 33-19 loss to England in London

ANALYSIS: Six Nations chief executive Tom Harrison is in the running to replace Mark Robinson as CEO, raising the nationality question.

Teams, pairs and individual riders will race both e-bikes and non-e-bikes through vineyards and farmland on the sprawling 2000ha property.

From small-town Mataura to the sprawling streets of Mexico City, Jerry Clode has swapped Southland pies for chilaquiles and wrestling masks.

These quick, flavour-packed noodle dishes are perfect for when time is not on your side.

Once a warning, now a compliment - looking like your mum is suddenly the height of fashion, writes Samantha Murray Greenway.

Ollies Ice Cream & Eatin’ House opened on Valentine’s Day in 1973.

As a growing number of people turn to AI tools for therapy, Daniel Wu speaks to the therapists who are using it for their own mental health.

Senior business reporter Rob Stock answers your money questions.

Neuroscientist Angelo Tedoldi has lived in Brisbane, London and Tokyo, and comes from a small village in Italy. He shares what he loves about the CBD.

Toby Morris visits excited diners waiting for burgers at Queenstown’s Fergburger.