Oscar Francis

St John says there is a low chance its other vehicles will catch fire after an investigation into a Cromwell ambulance blaze blamed an "accidental mechanical event".

Fire and Emergency New Zealand has labelled a campaign to encourage hard-to-reach demographics, including University of Otago students, not to cook while drunk a success.

Southern rescue groups have been recognised for outstanding performance over a five-day search for a missing tramper near Milford Sound.

The Government is set to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to build an "empirical picture of the disinformation landscape", as part of a three-pronged response to digital deception.

Only one use of force complaint has been upheld against Southern police since last year, in relation to an incident where an officer tackled a brawling man in the Octagon.

Police intelligence has warned airsoft groups, which use realistic-looking firearms in mock battles, could be used as cover for right-wing radicals preparing for acts of "extreme violence".