The Life Flight Trust’s Westpac rescue helicopter has responded to two incidents this afternoon.

At Approx 2pm this afternoon The life Flight Trust responded to the Wairarapa to a Moto Cross accident.

A 26 year old Rotorua man has been arrested and charged with Kidnapping. He will appear in the Rotorua District Court on Monday Morning.

A strong northwest flow is currently bringing severe gales to exposed parts of Wairarapa and Hawkes Bay south of Hastings, easing for a time tonight.

There's still quite a bit of discussion about the wintry blast set to hit much of the country over the next 48-72 hours.

Where will snow fall? How much will there be? DIt's not winter yet is it? Does this mean winter will be neverending then?

A very cold showery southwesterly flow is expected to affect the country on Tuesday. Snow showers are expected to fall to near sea level in Fiordland, Southland and Otago. Significant snow accumulations are expected and a severe weather advisory has been issued.

One man is dead and another seriously injured following a collision between two motorcycles on a remote rural road near Culverden, North Canterbury, late last night [Saturday 25 May].

The deceased has been named as Craig Gordon Pickering, aged 21, a dairy farmer from Balmoral.

CPAG's challenge to the In Work Tax Credit under the Human Rights Act heads to the Court of Appeal on Tuesday 28th May.

Christchurch Police have released the name of the man killed in a crash near Waikuku on Friday afternoon.

He was Timothy Grant Pickering, aged 41, of Martinborough.

Police investigating the serious assault at Lichfield, Tokoroa area examining the scene on SH1.

Very cold strong or gale southwest winds are expected to spread over the South Island on Monday. In Fiordland, Southland and Otago, snow showers are likely to lower to near sea-level by the end of Monday then continue into Tuesday.