Fatal fall

A tourist died after plunging 100 metres from a waterfall at Twin Creek Falls in Arthur’s Pass National Park in Canterbury while canyoning with her husband on Sunday. Police said the couple, who were understood to be from Germany, but living in Australia, were experienced in canyoning and were holidaying in the area.

Rain sets in

A burst of heavy rain on Thursday caused minor flooding in the Nelson region and prompted severe weather warnings for the next two days. At 10am, Metservice reported 29.6mm of rain falling at Nelson Airport. A severe weather warning was issued for the Nelson region and northern Buller on Thursday morning, as a slow-moving front stalled over the top of the south bringing a prolonged period of rainfall in the next 36 hours. And on the Kapiti coast, residents were dealing with an overnight deluge on Thursday. Paraparaumu Beach, Raumati and Paeka¯ka¯riki were worst affected and Paraparaumu Beach School and Raumati Beach School were closed. Metservice warned of more heavy rain for the area.

Drug charge

A 30-year-old woman from Uruguay has been charged with trying to import 4.3kg of cocaine into New Zealand in two false-bottom suitcases. The first-time visitor to New Zealand was questioned and her luggage examined after arriving at Auckland airport on Wednesday. The woman appeared in the Manukau District Court on Thursday. She was charged with importing and possession for supply of a class A drug.

Knife threat to boy

A knife was held to a 12-year-old boy’s throat as he was robbed of his bike by a group of boys on his way home from Masterton Intermediate School on Tuesday afternoon. A family member later took the boy who pulled the knife to police. He has been referred to Youth Aid.