The 20th annual Variety Bash raised a phenomenal $400,000 for sick, disabled and disadvantaged Kiwi kids during its week long convoy from Christchurch to Auckland from March 7 - 14.

Wellington, Feb 28 NZPA - The first wave of a tsunami, created by an 8.8 magnitude earthquake in Chile, is expected to reach the Chatham Islands by 7.05am.

Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, John Key has welcomed the announcement that thirteen projects will go through to stage two of the next funding round of The New Zealand Cycle Trail Project.

Westport, Feb 9 NZPA - The woman charged in connection with the hit and run which killed James Hill in Westport on Saturday has been remanded on bail to reappear next month.

Westport, Feb 8 NZPA - A woman charged over a hit-and-run death in Westport on Saturday has been freed on bail, upsetting the dead man's family who say she should be in custody.

Christchurch, Feb 5 NZPA - A man who torched a Christchurch shopping mall causing damage estimated at $1.7 million alerted police to the blaze and gave his name and details, a court was told today.

Wellington, Feb 1 NZPA - The family of missing Nelson teenager Leo Lipp-Neighbours are still praying he may still be alive, more than a week after he disappeared without a trace.

A significant infrastructure project is set to go ahead following news that a company based on the West Coast has been given resource consent approval to build a hydro-electric power scheme on the Stockton Plateau.

Greymouth, Jan 26 NZPA - Two tourist hot spots, Punakaiki and Okarito, and two remote sites, Kahurangi and Gorge River, have finally been decided as sites for the first marine reserves off the West Coast.

A new partnership between Tai Poutini Polytechnic and the Buller Regions major rest home O'Conor Home is giving carers an opportunity to jumpstart in their career in 2010.