The Interislander ferry Aratere aground near Picton.

Aratere crew not fully trained in new steering system before grounding

A final report finds KiwiRail focused on installing the new equipment but not on preparing its crew to use it safely.

Friday 6:07am

1:30

Marlborough’s first set of permanent traffic lights is to be installed in Picton, in a restricted port zone on Lagoon Rd. (File photo).

The New Zealand region about to get its first traffic lights

A request for Marlborough’s first set of permanent traffic lights to be installed in Blenheim has led to the revelation there is already a set in the works for Picton.

Wed, May 20

Wairau Bar Rd near Blenheim.

Body of baby discovered on side of the road in Blenheim

Police working to determine how the infant came to be at the place where it was discovered by a machinery operator.

Wed, May 20

Wairau Bar Rd in Blenheim

Police investigate sudden death near Blenheim, road closed overnight

A scene guard will remain in place at the rural road just outside of Blenheim.

Tue, May 19

Marlborough councillors have voted to incorporate their new water services organisation as Marlborough Waters.

'Excessive': Three months to develop new Marlborough water agency brand

Development took three months to come up with the brand for the region’s new water services organisation – Marlborough Waters.

Tue, May 19

Horse trekking across the station could be on the agenda for a future lessee.

Five applicants compete for lease of New Zealand's largest farm

Five applicants are competing to run Molesworth Station as the Department of Conservation weighs new plans for farming, conservation, tourism and public access.

Mon, May 18

One person in critical condition following Marlborough crash

One person in critical condition following Marlborough crash

Police said the crash was reported around 10.05am on Waihopai Valley Road between Shandon Road and Omaka Downs Road.

Tue, May 12

The seaside community of Hapuku is still struggling after the Kaikoura wildfires, that destroyed 33 buildings, and over 200 hectares of land over six-months ago.

Hapuku community still struggling after Kaikoura wildfires last year

The seaside community of Hapuku is still struggling after the Kaikoura wildfires, that destroyed 33 buildings, and over 200 hectares of land over six-months ago.

Sun, May 10

1News meteorologist Dan Corbet says the wind and rain is far from over. 

Flooding, outages, roads closed as rapidly deepening low spreads

Strong wind watches expand and heavy rain hits West Coast and upper South Island, with more disruption expected as system moves east.

Fri, May 8

A current Interislander passenger ferry (file picture).

Kaitaki: 864 lives endangered by failure of single part, safety report finds

The Transport Accident Investigation Commission today released findings into the January 2023 incident, when Kaitaki lost power and drifted within about 1.4 km of coastline before its engines were restarted.

Thu, May 7

Damaging winds and flooding rain are expected for the north and west of the South Island as well as the west of the North Island that is exposed to the south.

Weather warnings expand as 'rapidly deepening' low approaches NZ

Warnings extended into the North Island and deeper south as a rapidly intensifying storm system approaches, with damaging winds, flooding rain and more alerts likely.

Thu, May 7

April 2026
Emergency crews work to rescue a person who went overboard in the Cook Strait.

Passenger rescued after going overboard on Cook Strait crossing

Crew swiftly recovered the passenger after the Bluebridge vessel Livia left Tory Channel en route to Wellington.

Mon, Apr 27

March 2026
Molesworth Recreation Reserve (Source: Department of Conservation)

Five applicants seek to operate NZ's largest farm

At 180,787 hectares, Molesworth Recreation Reserve is slightly larger than Rakiura/Stewart Island and bigger than 10 of New Zealand’s national parks.

Mon, Mar 23

Wine harvest in 2025. Like last year, only the very best fruit will be picked as wine companies try to rebalance supply with demand. (Source: Supplied / Greg D Wass)

Theatre's accountant goes off-script with 'dire' wine predictions

An ongoing oversupply of wine on the market coupled with falling demand has led to a drop in the value and volume of wine exports.

Wed, Mar 18

Emergency services were called to the serious crash on State Highway 1, near Redwood Pass just before 11am on February 22.

Fourth person dies following horror crash near Blenheim

One person remains seriously ill in hospital following the crash on Feb 22.

Fri, Mar 13

The price of jet fuel had more than doubled in the past week with prices in Asia and Oceania up 77%, according to the International Air Transport Association.

Flight cancellations: Mayor says Air NZ has taken 'fair' approach

Flight disruptions will affect Marlborough Airport from next week due to volatile jet fuel prices, prompting the mayor to urge patience.

Fri, Mar 13

Air New Zealand

What we know about Air NZ's fuel crisis flight cuts

Air New Zealand is cancelling around 1100 flights until early May as it deals with the fallout of rising fuel prices.

Thu, Mar 12

The Interislander ferry Kaiārahi

Cook Strait ferry out of action with fault

Interislander is operating with just one ferry till Sunday due to a fault on the Kaiārahi.

Thu, Mar 12

A woman is caught on camera throwing seaweed at a New Zealand fur seal/kekeno on the Kaikōura Peninsula.

DOC investigates after woman seen throwing seaweed at Kaikōura seal

The Department of Conservation has launched an investigation after social media footage showed a woman disturbing a fur seal at Kaikōura.

Wed, Mar 11

An illustration of cold weather.

Temperatures across South Island's east coast set to drop

Metservice meterologist Katie Lyons told 1News a cold front from the Southern Ocean will move up the South Island on Monday.

Sun, Mar 8

The Awatere River looks opaque due to eroding bedrock dating back to the Gondwana supercontinent, Dr Martin Crundwell says. (Source: Marlborough Express)

Blame Gondwana: 100-million-year-old rocks cloud Marlborough river

Dr Martin Crundwell says ancient greywacke bedrock is causing the water to appear opaque – and there's little the council can do to clear it up.

Fri, Mar 6

February 2026
Harvest began in mid-February in Marlborough, and even earlier in Hawke's Bay, as the warming climate brings the ripening forward. 

Grape expectations as winemakers experience earliest vintage

Harvest began in mid-February in Marlborough, and even earlier in Hawke's Bay, as the warming climate brings the ripening forward.

Tue, Feb 24

Third person dies following two-vehicle crash near Blenheim

Third person dies following two-vehicle crash near Blenheim

Two people died at the scene on State Highway 1 near Redwood Pass on Sunday, with police confirming a third fatality on Monday.

Mon, Feb 23

Two dead, three critical after multi-vehicle crash on SH1 near Blenheim

Two dead, three critical after multi-vehicle crash on SH1 near Blenheim

Emergency services were called to the incident near Redwood Pass at around 10.40am.

Sun, Feb 22

Eltham Rd’s cycle lane, as it looked freshly installed in 2018.

Controversial Blenheim cycle lane to be revamped

Marlborough District Council said the cycle lane along Eltham Rd would no longer be separated from the road by kerbing.

Fri, Feb 13