Marlborough

The next day, Shamah Riley tried to strangle a prison inmate over a piece of bread.

More than 7000 people have reported feeling a magnitude 4.8 earthquake that struck in the centre of the country.

The man's body was found by a member of the public in Spring Creek on August 23.

The new opportunity would involve farming, but could also include other commercial activities like guiding or accommodation.

A formal identification process is underway, police say.

Contractors have been working to fix more than 780 faults across the road network caused by the storms in June and July.

An elderly Marlborough woman who died after being badly burned was cooking before the fire started, a coroner has found.

Three people were injured and SH1 closed after a crash near Blenheim that saw one person cut from a vehicle.

The council previously said the boil water notice would last until a new $14 million permanent treatment plant was completed in 2028.

The road is expected to be closed for some time, police say.

Bridges are gone, roads are destroyed, and some locals have been without water for over two weeks as flood recovery drags on.

Locals say a big clean-up is underway, after the river burst its banks.

Civil defence has confirmed this week's downpours have matched the devastating 1877 deluge. Audio

Crews have assessed nearly 650 properties after record-setting rain left homes damaged and roads destroyed across the top of the South Island.

The region remains under a state of emergency.

It was likely to be a few days until the full extent of damage was known.

Spring Creek and Renwick residents spent the night away from their homes.

Tasman District Council says residents near the Motueka River from Tapawera to Riwaka should be prepared to leave quickly.