Grant awarded for study on dying
A Waikato University researcher has been awarded $340,000 from the Health Research Council to talk to Maori about death and dying.

Study looks at Maori students' success
A project looking at successful Maori secondary students could lead to changes in what schools do.

Maori language head urges merger
The Maori Language Commission has told MPs that resources for promoting te reo Maori need to be shifted away from Wellington-based Government departments into the community.

Cabinet paper leaks to be investigated
The State Services Commissioner has been asked to investigate leaks of cabinet papers about mining in high-value conservation areas and proposed changes to the state sector.

Yacht searchers cover new territory
A seach for a missing yachtsman was to focus on Thursday on the area to the north of the stretch of ocean searched in the past two days.

Machinery buffs catered for at field day
High speed shingle shovelling and giant excavators pouring cups of tea are just some of the events planned at the Central Districts Field Days.

Northland drought pays off for winegrowers
The drought that is making life difficult for farmers and orchardists in Northland is delighting those in the region's wine industry, who say it has resulted in brilliant fruit quality and an excellent vintage.

Thursday's newspaper headlines
Man stabbed after confronting two young women burglars; peace protesters acquitted in spy base attack; two police officers under investigation.

Nigeria's acting president dissolves cabinet
Nigeria's acting president Goodluck Jonathan has dissolved the federal cabinet, a little over a month after taking up the job.

Spy base acquittal sets no precedent - Law Society
One of the men acquitted of an attack on the Waihopai spy base says the not guilty verdicts are an historic moment for New Zealand - but the Law Society points out no legal precedent has been set.

Full extent of Fiji cyclone damage still unknown
About half the buildings in Fiji's Lau Group may have been damaged by the Cyclone Tomas, but it could take days to establish the full extent of the damage, officials say.

Cutbacks hurting frontline public sector staff, say unions
Frontline staff in the public service are challenging the Government's claim that extra resources are coming their way.

Thai protesters head for prime minister's home
Anti-government protesters in Thailand have hurled plastic bags filled with their own blood at the house of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, on the fourth day of their mass rally to demand his resignation.

Auckland region under environmental pressure - report
Aucklanders are being warned they are contributing to the region's steady environmental decline.

Exports delayed due to shipping capacity shortage
Some exporters are struggling to send goods overseas because of a backlog of containers at several ports, Export New Zealand says.

More IRD scrutiny as tax take falls
Businesses face a higher level of scrutiny from the tax man as the Inland Revenue Department tries to counter a decline in corporate tax revenues, a leading accounting firm warns.

Growers worried they will bear the cost of GST hike
Horticulture New Zealand fears growers' margins may be squeezed even further if a Government proposal to increase GST goes ahead.

Wellington council flat overhaul draws criticism
A $220 million overhaul of council flats in Wellington is being criticised for decreasing the number of bedsits available to residents.

German poker robbery suspect surrenders
A 21-year-old man has turned himself in to authorities investigating an armed raid on a high-stakes poker tournament in Germany.

German chancellor backs eurozone exclusions
Germany is pressing the 16 eurozone countries to consider harsher measures to safeguard the stability of the European single currency.

US senate passes job creation bill
The United States Senate has passed a $US17.6 billion bill aimed at boosting employment.

Ireland's Catholic head apologises over abuse failings
The head of the Catholic Church in Ireland has apologised for his role in mishandling the case of a serial child abuser.

Abandoned Commonwealth Games plan revealed
Details have been released of the aborted plan to hold the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Auckland, which the Government decided was too costly and its economic benefits too low.

Telecom continues work on XT network fix
Telecom says it has installed two new radio network controllers, effectively doubling the capacity of its XT network.

Canterbury council decision expected in weeks
A decision on the future of the Canterbury Regional Council is only weeks away, as the Government's consultation with organisations that work with the council concludes.

Tangimoana to fight clinic closure
Residents in the Manawatu town of Tangimoana have vowed to fight plans to cut the hours of the town's local health clinic.

ACC office in Blenheim may close
People in Blenheim are waiting to hear whether their local ACC branch will be closed.

Sharples denies being sidelined
The Maori Party co-leader, Pita Sharples, is dismissing accusations that he's being sidelined in his associate ministerial roles.

National should show 'guts' over youth rate - Douglas
ACT Party MP Sir Roger Douglas says he's disappointed the National Party is refusing to support his attempt to reinstate youth pay rates for 16 and 17-year-olds.

Many uncertain over retirement savings - survey
A survey suggests people are saving more, but many feel unprepared for retirement. The study found 44% of respondents were in KiwiSaver.

Hoyts buys Berkeley cinema chain
Cinema chain Hoyts is increasing its presence in Auckland by buying the Berkeley Cinema group for an undisclosed sum.

Internet advertising grows, bucking trend
Internet advertising revenue has bucked the decline experienced across other media last year, according to figures from the Advertising Standards Authority.

Trial abandoned of woman accused of killing child
The High Court trial of a woman accused of killing a three-year-old boy has been abandoned in Auckland.

Kerikeri blaze knocks out power
Firefighters have managed to control a big scrub fire in the Far North that cut power to thousands of residents.

Prison boss fired over ex-ruler's luxury cell
The governor of a high-security Bolivian prison has been sacked, partly because a former military ruler was allowed to turn his cell into luxury accommodation.

Pakistan postpones own games out of security fears
The security situation in Pakistan has become such a concern that the country's own National Games have been postponed.

Rudd silent on asylum-seeker deaths - for now
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says the time is not yet right to judge publicly a group of asylum-seekers named in connection with a boat explosion.

NZX 50 down five points
The benchmark NZX 50 index closed down 5 points, or 0.2%, to 3202 on turnover of $63 million on Wednesday.

Catholics urge pope to speak out on sex abuse
Catholics around the world are urging Pope Benedict to speak out about the widening investigation into sexual abuse involving priests.

Telecom shares continue slide
Shares in Telecom touched new lows on Wednesday on fears that lower earnings will result in smaller dividend payments.

Spy base trio found not guilty
Three men charged over an attack on the Waihopai spy base near Blenheim in 2008 have been found not guilty.

Labour criticises 'undemocratic' structure for Auckland
The Labour Party has grilled the Government in Parliament about its plans to have Auckland's key assets and services run by organisations it says will be undemocratic.

Health Ministry job cuts make no sense - Labour
The Labour Party says cuts to staff numbers at the Ministry of Health make no sense.

Brownlee rejects system failure warning
Energy Minister Gerry Brownlee has rejected warnings that changes to the electricity industry could raise the risk of a system failure.

Christchurch cable factory to lose jobs
About 100 jobs are expected to be lost from General Cable's Christchurch manufacturing plant, as the company moves some of its production to factories in Asia.

Museum chief's early departure 'inevitable'
The former director of Auckland War Memorial Museum says the early departure of chief executive Vanda Vitali was inevitable.

Bennett singles out ministry for Whanau Ora scheme
The Ministry for Maori Development could run the Government's proposed Whanau Ora scheme, says Social Development Minister Paula Bennett.

Key dashes iwi hopes for share of oil, gas income
Prime Minister John Key has dashed the hopes of a Taranaki iwi that it might share in the spoils of the region's oil and gas riches.

Caseloads obstacle to getting beneficiaries into work
MPs have been told there are obstacles to getting long-term sickness and invalid beneficiaries into work, including that case managers lack the time to help.

Queensland prepares for cyclone's arrival
Authorities are preparing to evacuate two islands off the central Queensland coast as a category 4 cyclone approaches the region.

Orion to take no action against tree owner
A Canterbury power company says it will not seek compensation from the owner of a fallen tree that caused a power surge on Banks Peninsula.

Aid on its way to cyclone-hit Fiji
The Red Cross and the New Zealand and Australian governments are sending aid to areas of Fiji severely damaged by Cylcone Tomas.

Emergency management system promises to be faster
The Ministry of Civil Defence has unveiled a new emergency management system which it says will speed up its response to a big emergency.

Maori language programme idea draws fire
A proposal to screen Maori language programmes on Channel 6 and Channel 7 has drawn fire from the Maori Broadcasting Funding Agency.

Ryall warns of more public sector job losses
State Services Minister Tony Ryall has warned that there will be further job losses in the core public service.

Private-public tie-ups under consideration
Finance Minister Bill English says the Government is assessing the possible use of private-public partnerships to build prisons and schools.

Space scientist Sir Ian Axford dies
New Zealander Sir Ian Axford, honoured for his work on space exploration, has died, aged 77.

MidCentral will 'need to do more' to cut deficit
MidCentral District Health Board says it is studying all services as it struggles to cut a $10 million deficit.

Superannuation Fund grows
The New Zealand Superannuation Fund grew by 1.88% in Feburary, with a net gain of $296 million.

TelstraClear warns of higher charges after broadband levy
Telecommunications company TelstraClear is warning that consumers will pay the cost of a new industry levy for better rural broadband.

Honda US recall not affecting NZ vehicles
The recall of more than 410,000 Honda vehicles in the United States over braking problems doesn't affect its fleet in New Zealand, the company says.

Campaigners meet over RNZ funding
The Save Radio New Zealand campaign group has held a meeting in Wellington to discuss what it calls a manufactured funding crisis, aimed at strangling the public broadcaster.

Funding urged for new anti-smoking products
An Otago University researcher wants the Government to subsidise two new nicotine replacement products.

Canada experience to help Maori TV rugby coverage
Maori Television will tap into the experience of Canadian indigenous broadcasters to cover next year's Rugby World Cup.

Palestinians, Israeli forces clash in Jerusalem
Scores of people have been injured as thousands of Palestinians took to the streets in East Jerusalem in anger against Israeli plans to expand Jewish settlements in disputed areas.

Deal signed for release of new Michael Jackson albums
The estate of pop-singer Michael Jackson has signed the biggest recording deal in history.

Tiger Woods announces return to golf
Tiger Woods has announced he will return to competitive golf in April at the Masters, nearly five months after revelations about a string of affairs wrecked his image as a global sports star.

Iraq bombs leave 8 dead
Two bomb explosions in Iraq have killed eight people and injured more than 10 others.

PM gives assurance on SuperGold Card entitlements
Prime Minister John Key is assuring SuperGold Card users there will be no change to their travel entitlements.

Talks on free-trade deal begin
Prime Minister John Key has described trade talks that started in Melbourne on Monday as marking an important milestone in New Zealand's free-trade agenda.

All but Telecom happy with broadband plan - Govt
Communications Minister Steven Joyce believes there is good industry support for the Government's rural broadband plan, aside from Telecom.

Facial eczema risk climbs in the North Island
North Island farmers are being advised to taken precautions to protect their stock from facial eczema, as weather and growing conditions raise the risk levels.

Rural nurses seek wider responsibilities
Rural nurse practitioners say they're being hampered by legislative barriers that are restricting their ability to do their jobs properly.

Sexual assault on woman in Hamilton
Police are investigating a sexual assault on a woman in Hamilton.

Marlborough forest fire under control
A forest fire that forced the evacuation of about 35 people from their homes in Marlborough has been brought under control.

Consumer confidence dented, survey shows
Rising interest rates, petrol prices and unemployment have knocked consumer confidence, the latest survey shows.

Maori Battalion soldier dies, aged 88
One of only two remaining 39 Maori Battalion soldiers, Takamoana Delamere, died on Sunday, at the age of 88.

Shell to cut 1000 more jobs
The oil giant Royal Dutch Shell will axe a further 1000 jobs by the end of next year after admitting its been slow to respond to the global slump.

US Federal Reserve holds interest rates
In the United States, the Federal Reserve has held benchmark interest rates near zero and continued to say it will keep them exceptionally low for some time.

Car park scam machines being replaced
Auckland City Council is to spend about $4 million replacing parking machines at the centre of a credit card fraud investigation.

Failure to spot fault led to train fire - report
The Transport Accident Investigation Commission says a Wellington passenger train caught fire in April 2008 because Tranz Metro failed to spot a developing fault.

Single prison entrance boosts anti-contraband effort
Mt Eden and Auckland Central Remand prisons are now using a single entrance where people are checked for contraband items.

Boost to Asian studies in schools urged
The Secondary Principals' Association says it is worrying to see a lack of Asian topics being taught in schools, but it's up to the Government to change this.

Fire trucks used in crews' protest
The Firefighters Union says its members will keep fire trucks outside stations at the end of a shift, until stations are properly equipped.

No Commonwealth Games in Auckland in 2018
Auckland's hopes of hosting the Commonwealth Games in eight years have been dashed, with the Government saying the half billion dollar cost is too high.

New trauma patient system expected to save lives
A new approach in dealing with trauma patients launched in Hamilton is expected to save about 20 lives each year, and even more if it goes national.

Aquifer to be tapped for Kaitaia water
The drought that's been affecting the Far North has prompted moves to establish a new water supply for Kaitaia.

Commuter delays in Wellington
A nose-to-tail crash on State Highway 1 in Wellington caused southbound traffic to stretch back to Porirua on Wednesday morning, while rail travellers also experienced delays.

More than 200 groups compete at culture festival
Scores of culture groups are attending a four-day secondary school cultural festival which started in south Auckland on Wednesday.

Dunedin heritage building restoration urged
A new Dunedin City Council steering group aims to encourage the restoration and re-use of hundreds of heritage buildings.

New bridge planned for Ashburton
Ashburton District Council has announced its preferrred route for a new bridge to span the mid-Canterbury town's river and ease congested traffic on State Highway 1.

Government presents human rights report to UN
New Zealand's latest report on human rights has been presented to the United Nations.

Supercar maker seeks investors
The makers of the Hulme CanAm supercar are seeking to raise up to $7.5 million from the public to build a limited production supercar to sell worldwide.

PPPs 'likely to appeal to experienced investors'
Analysts say raising funds from investors for private public partnerships is likely to appeal to professionals as the sector starts to slowly develop.

US unveils new financial regulation bill
Proposals to change the financial rules in the United States will now be fought out in America's political arena, but will have a big impact on Wall Street if passed.

Air NZ in no hurry to licence skycouch
The chief executive of Air New Zealand says the airline could make tens of millions of dollars by licensing its skycouch to other international airlines, but he's keen to make them wait.

Telecom expects broadband plan to hurt earnings
Telecom says its earnings will suffer under the Government's new rural broadband plans in a fresh blow to the company's plans to return to growth.

New fund for social infrastructure investment
Craigs Investment Partners and Morrison and Co are planning to raise up to $125 million in an investment fund to build schools, hospitals and housing.

Japan, China oppose bluefin tuna ban
Japan says it has China's support in opposing a global ban on trade in Atlantic bluefin tuna.

Waikato, BoP sharemilker titles announced
Waikato's sharemilker of the year believes in starting young and getting on with it. Bas Nelis became a farm manager a year after joining the dairy industry at age 16.

Farmer makes 'smart' fertiliser equipment
A Canterbury farmer has applied a bit of Kiwi ingenuity to turn a high-tech weed sprayer into a very selective fertiliser applicator.

Wednesday's newspaper headlines
New Zealand prepares mercy mission to Fiji; Auckland region growing by more than 50 people a day; renowned NZ space scientist dies.

US unveils ambitious broadband plan
Regulators in the United States have unveiled details of an ambitious plan designed to vault America into the ranks of world leaders in high-speed internet access in the next decade.

Maori conservation researcher dies while diving
A champion of the Maori perspective in the conservation movement has died in a diving accident.

Fiji cyclone claims several lives
Disaster management officials in Fiji say they have received reports of several deaths in the powerful cyclone that has battered the island nation for four days.

Rural Women pleased with rural broadband expansion
Rural Women New Zealand says it is pleased with a Government decision to extend the rollout of rural broadband beyond schools, to benefit the wider community.

More warning signs to go on old Waimakariri bridge
Canterbury Regional Council says it will place more warning signs on the old Waimakariri River bridge, where a 15 year old boy drowned last month.

Student association won't appeal over toga decision
The Otago University Students Association says it will not appeal against a judicial review decision, backing the university's right to discipline students for off-campus activities.

Greymouth in line for new type of adventure tourism
An adventure tourism organisation hopes to launch what it calls New Zealand's first power-fan jump experience, down a 13 metre mine shaft in Greymouth this year.

Sri Lanka's top general on trial
The military trial has begun for Sri Lanka's defeated presidential candidate, Sarath Fonseka.

Cyclone Ului still pummelling Solomons
The Category 4 cyclone battering Solomon Islands is moving only slowly over the southern part of the country but is maintaining its strength.

NZ doctor supportive of US gene patent challenge
A New Zealand doctor agrees with a landmark legal challenge in the United States against a patent on two breast cancer genes.

Hubbard sells Salvus stake
Timaru-based businessman Alan Hubbard has sold a 17% stake in Salvus Strategic Investments for $2.4 million.

External consultant appointed to Huljich
Huljich Wealth Management has appointed David McEwen as an external consultant to its investment committee.

Quake-damaged Gisborne church reopens
A Gisborne church badly damaged in the 2007 earthquake is back in business.

Kaikoura locals don't want new hospital on old landfill
Kaikoura residents have rejected Canterbury District Health Board's suggestion that a new hospital could be built near the town's old landfill.

Teacher, Solid Energy at odds over essay contest
A Christchurch geography teacher says a school essay competition run by state-owned coal company Solid Energy is misleading.

Doctor faulted over brief liaison
A family doctor who had a brief sexual relationship with a patient has been faulted by the Health and Disability Commissioner, but will not face further action.

Vodafone apologises to Fonterra workers for massive bills
Vodafone is apologising to Fonterra workers who were mistakenly sent a text message demanding they each pay a phone bill of more than $100,000.

NZ paralympic skier takes gold in slalom
New Zealand skier Adam Hall has won a gold medal in the slalom at the Winter Paralympics in Vancouver.

6.7 quake off Chile
An aftershock of measuring 6.7 has hit off the coast of quake-ravaged Chile.

Labour force productivity falls
The economic recession has taken its toll on the productivity of New Zealand's workforce.

Chris Kahui allowed to live with his baby daughter
The Family Court has allowed Chris Kahui to live with his one year old daughter.

NZ market slides
The benchmark NZX 50 index closed down 24 points (0.7%) to 3208 on turnover of $53 million on Tuesday.

Greens urge more effort to free whaling protester
The Green Party is calling on the Government to ramp up diplomatic efforts to bring home the New Zealand anti-whaling protester arrested in Japan.

Holden recalls new sedan over fuel leak fears
Holden New Zealand says there have been no accidents or injuries reported as a result of fuel leaks in its Cruze sedan.

Govt review of senior transport card 'shambles'
The Labour Party says the Government's handling of a review of SuperGold Card transport subsidies has been a shambles.

Taranaki organic dairy co-op in receivership
A Taranaki-based organic dairy co-operative has been placed in receivership just six months after its cheese-processing factory began operating.

Flu didn't deter Northland Young Farmer winner
A dose of the flu did not stop a Northland cattle farmer from winning the regional final of the national Young Farmer contest.

Sharebroker shifts focus to financial advice
Sharebroker McDouall Stuart Securities says it wants to drop its right to trade shares and concentrate on being a financial adviser to clients.

Growers aim to change perceptions of industry
Horticulturalists and viticulturalists want to improve the image of their industry in order to make harvesting fruit and cultivating vines more attractive as a career.

Buyers hold off purchasing farms
The Real Estate Institute expects some buyers are holding off purchasing farms until prices fall further.

Southland support for effluent management standards
Southland farming representatives are supporting new standards for the design of dairy effluent systems which they say may have helped to prevent the problems some farmers have had with leaking storage ponds.

Couple suffering memory loss after attack
Police investigating a serious assault on a young couple say they have not been able to find out what happened as the victims are suffering from memory loss.

Kaitaia residents heed call to cut water use
Residents in the Far North have cut water consumption by nearly a third in the past week in response to urgent calls from the council.

Auckland homes still getting discoloured water
Auckland City's water company says there are still lingering problems with discoloured water coming into homes in two central suburbs.

Report highlights failings of Mapua clean-up - locals
The Mapua Residents Association says a report on the clean-up of New Zealand's most contaminated site is further evidence of the failings of the project.

Court dismisses appeals over child abduction
The Court of Appeal has dismissed appeals from the mother and grandfather of a six year old boy abducted in Hamilton in 2006.

World's shortest man dies at 21
The world's shortest man, He Pingping, who stood just under 75 centimetres, has died aged 21.

Super-city asset proposal 'threat to democracy'
Local Government New Zealand is criticising a super-city proposal which it says would give control of three-quarters of Auckland's most valuable assets to unelected powers.

Zimbabwe MP questions reasons to delay cricket tour
A prominent Zimbabwe MP believes New Zealand Cricket has not given a good reason for the decision to postpone a tour of his country.

Review could see inshore fishing limit extended
A review of maritime laws could lead to the inshore commercial fishing fleet having its outer limit for fishing increased almost ten-fold.

Govt won't allow mining to damage NZ's image - PM
Prime Minister John Key says people should not to jump to conclusions about mining on the conservation estate.

Five injured after bus collides with van
Five people have been taken to Wellington Hospital after a collision involving a bus and a small van.

Convenor appointed to form single wool group
Agriculture Minister David Carter has appointed a former banker and Treasury official to head discussions on forming a single body to represent the divided wool industry.

Power restored to thousands in Central Otago
Power has been restored to 11,500 customers in Central Otago after the main transformer tripped near Cromwell.

Men urged to show faith in prostate cancer test
Men should have faith in a blood test for prostate cancer, despite its inventor describing it as little better than a coin toss in terms of diagnosis, urologists say.

Call for ministry to increase funding for school pools
An increasing number of students do not know how to swim as high costs are forcing schools to close their pools, according to Water Safety New Zealand.

Karla Cardno killer again denied parole
The man convicted of murdering Lower Hutt schoolgirl Karla Cardno has again been denied an early release from prison.

Concern at high cost of phone calls from prison
The Children's Commissioner is to meet with prison authorities to discuss whether the price of making a phone call from jail can be reduced.

Relations between US and Israel sour
Israel's ambassador to the United States Michael Oren is reported to have described relations between the countries as facing a crisis of historic proportions.

Academic criticises use of marae as youth courts
The author of a ground-breaking report on Maori justice is challenging the use of marae for youth court sittings.

Beckham's 4th World Cup chance gone with injury
One of the world's best known footballers, English mid-field player David Beckham, has been injured while playing for his club AC Milan, almost certainly destroying his chances of playing in a fourth World Cup round.

Mapua clean-up unlikely to pose health risk - report
The Ministry of Health says long-term health effects for local residents are unlikely as a result of the Mapua clean-up process.

Farmers' feelings on research funding 'under-estimated'
Federated Farmers national president Don Nicolson is warning levy-funded research organisations not to under-estimate the depth of farmer feeling about their lack of profitability.

Dotcom turns 25
The internet domain name dotcom is celebrating its 25th anniversary.

Australian doctors 'over-use' CT scans
Australian doctors are being urged to stop using high radiation CT scans without clinical justification after a review found the scans were being overused.

26 students die in bus crash in INdia
A bus has plunged into a river in the northern Indian state of Rajasthan, killing at least 26 students.

Cyclone Tomas brings winds up to 270km/h to Fiji
Fiji police say villagers have reported houses being blown away as Cyclone Tomas moves slowly over Fiji's northern island of Vanua Levu. It has already claimed one life.

Thai leader skips protesters in helicopter
Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has rejected an ultimatum by tens of thousands of protesters to resign, before flying out of a besieged Bangkok army barracks in a Black Hawk helicopter.

Fisher and Paykel to take over Haier's services
Fisher and Paykel Appliances says it will take responsibility for Haier's, sales, marketing and customer care service in Australia, next month.

NZ Cricket abandons Zimbabwe tour
The Black Caps cricket tour to Zimbabwe will not proceed as scheduled in June.

Three linked to US consulate deaths in Mexico
Suspected drug cartel hit squads have killed three people connected to the American consulate in the Mexican border city of Ciudad Juarez, according to a US official.

Habitat for Humanity may help rebuild Aitutaki
The Cook Islands says New Zealand's cyclone reconstruction package falls short of original estimates, but Habitat for Humanity may come to the rescue on Aitutaki.

Proposed dairy effluent code out for consultation
The dairy industry body, Dairy NZ, has released a proposed new set of design standards and a code of practice to guide farmers who are installing effluent management systems.

Both perspectives in new exhibition on Taranaki wars
It is 150 years since the first shots were fired in the Taranaki land wars, but Puke Ariki Museum in New Plymouth is expecting heated debate about what happened and why.

UN Secretary-General back in Haiti
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has been in Haiti to inspect what has been described as the most challenging emergency his organisation has ever dealt with.

Maori King said to have huge support
A Tainui documentary maker says the Maori king enjoys overwhelming support within the iwi, despite media reports to the contrary.

Mt Allan could be NZ's costliest fire operation
The massive firefighting operation at Mount Allan near Dunedin could become the country's most expensive, with a projected cost of more than $1 million.

Quake-damaged Chile hit by power blackout
A major blackout has left most of Chile without power for hours, two weeks after a massive earthquake that killed hundreds of people and weakened infrastructure.

NZ market closes higher
The benchmark NZX 50 index closed up 6 points to 3231 on turnover of $51 million on Monday.

Investors denied vote on bailout - Strategic Finance
Failed finance firm Strategic Finance says its trustee should have let investors vote on least two bailout plans that may have seen them get all their money back.

The Warehouse to open more stores in Auckland
The Warehouse is bulking up its presence in Auckland, saying it will build new stores in a region it is under-represented in.

Call for developed nations to free up agricultural trade
A Brazilian trade lobbyist says emerging countries will not settle for half measures to help advance stalled world trade talks.

Southland farmers study proposed water charges
Southland farming representatives will look carefully at new water charges the regional council is proposing, to make sure irrigation users in particular aren't burdened with an unfair share of the costs.

Feilding couple win Glammies award
A Feilding couple has been awarded top prize at Meat and Wool New Zealand's Golden Lamb awards, known as the Glammies.

Warning on obstacles to reaching emissions goals
An iwi adviser on global warming is warning of growing difficulties for New Zealand in dealing with its greenhouse gas emissions.

Man dead after being hit by rubbish truck
A man has died after being run over by a rubbish truck in South Auckland.

Weta shows rugby World Cup statue design
Weta Workshop has unveiled its design for a Wellington statue to commemorate the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

Ministry releases table on community health services
The Ministry of Health has released for the first time league table details showing which groups of doctors' practices in New Zealand are doing the best and worst at meeting community health needs.

Trust says OSH wrong not to prosecute over Burton case
Lawyers for the Sensible Sentencing Trust say the Department of Labour was wrong not to prosecute the Government departments that handled the Graeme Burton case.

Labour calls for whaling protester's release
The Labour Party is backing calls for the release of a New Zealand anti-whaling activist being held in Japan.

Minister doubts Rodney breakaway move will succeed
Local Government Minister Rodney Hide says there's not much chance Parliament will consider letting the Rodney District exclude itself from the Auckland super city.

Mission: Impossible actor Peter Graves dies
Actor Peter Graves, who starred in the TV series Mission: Impossible, has died in his home in the United States at the age of 83.

Georgian TV station apologises for fake invasion report
A television station in Georgia has apologised for causing panic with a fake news report about a Russian invasion.

Israel claims Hamas leader arrested
Israel's army says a leading member of the Palestinian militant group Hamas has been arrested in the West Bank.

Claim govt considers more conservation land for mining
Forest and Bird says the Government has been looking at opening up 7000 hectares of high-value conservation land to mining.

Cyclone Ului damages Solomon Islands
Strong winds from a second Pacific cyclone, Ului, have damaged houses and buildings in Rennell in Solomon Islands.

Radiographers' industrial action affecting 14 DHBs
Industrial action by radiographers has now spread to 14 district health boards, but their union says patient welfare will be minimally affected.

Council defends handling of complaints over doctor
The Medical Council is defending how it handled warnings regarding a South Auckland doctor who had more than a dozen complaints against him.

Renewable electricity target not practical - institute
The Institute of Professional Engineers is pouring cold water on suggestions New Zealand could have 90% of its electricity renewable by 2025.

Access to fishing spots dwindling, say anglers
Anglers are complaining they are increasingly being shut out of rivers and lakes as landowners sell access rights to guiding companies.

Government's internet porn filter operating
Two small Internet Service Providers have become the first to operate a government internet filter introduced to block child pornography.

Trans-Tasman rower makes landfall
Shaun Quincey has succeeded in his bid to row across the Tasman, reaching the Northland coast on Sunday afternoon 54 days after setting off in his boat Tasman Trespasser.

Non-lethal research on whales proven - joint team
A New Zealand and Australian research team says it has confirmed it is possible to study whales without killing the mammals.

Irish cleric rejects calls to resign over abuse 'cover-up'
The Catholic Church's most senior cleric in Ireland has rejected calls to resign over claims that he helped cover up sex abuse investigations in the 1970s.

Service sector continues slow expansion
The service sector continues to expand, albeit slowly, according to the latest BNZ Business New Zealand Performance of Services Index.

Chinese leader denies currency under-valued
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has rejected criticism that China is keeping its currency under-valued in order to boost exports.

Call for more Maori in mental health sector
Associate Health Minister Tariana Turia says a hui on Maori mental health has highlighted the need to increase the number of Maori working in the sector.

New technologies may mean more te reo on TV
The chair of Te Putahi Paoho, the electoral college which chooses the board of Maori Television, says new spectrum allocations could expand opportunities to broadcast in the Maori language, te reo.

PM's super-city representation claim rejected
The Tongan Advisory Council says Prime Minister John Key is on another planet if he thinks Maori and Pacific Islanders will not struggle to be elected to Auckland's super-city council.

Iraq PM strengthens lead in elections
Prime Minister Nouri Nouri al-Maliki appears to be strengthening his lead over main rival Iyad Allawi in Iraq's parliamentary elections.

Call for long-term water storage solution for Far North
A Northland farming leader and regional councillor says it is time to get serious about water storage in the Far North.

Business result season subdued
This year's result season is proving to be an overwhelmingly subdued event.

Strategic Finance goes into receivership
Finance company Strategic Finance has been placed in receivership.

Tens of thousands gather in Bangkok for opposition rally
Tens of thousands of anti-government protesters have gathered in Thailand's capital Bangkok to press the government to step down and hold new elections.

Death toll in Afghan suicide bomb attacks 35
A sophisticated Taliban assault on the key southern Afghan city of Kandahar has killed 35 people in a claimed revenge attack by militants, officials say.

Strong quake hits northern Japan
A strong, 6.6-magnitude earthquake has hit northern Japan, but the Japanese government did not issue a tsunami warning.

Suicide bombers strike in Kandahar
Police say at least 10 people were killed by a suicide bomber at a security checkpoint in north-west Pakistan, it comes one day after twin suicide attacks in Lahore which killed 54 people.

Two new British polls point to indecisive election result
Two new polls point to an indecisive result in Britain's upcoming election, with one suggesting the ruling Labour Party would emerge as the biggest party and the other giving the edge to opposition Conservatives.

Fire which destroyed two caravans suspicious
The Fire Service is treating as suspicious a fire in Northland which destroyed two caravans on Sunday afternoon.

Motorcyclist dies in crash near Nelson
A motorcyclist was killed near Nelson on Sunday afternoon.

Fire contained at Hamilton boat building factory
The Fire Service says a large fire at a boat building factory in an industrial suburb of Hamilton has been contained.

Southern motorway reopens after fatal crash
A section of Auckland's southern motorway in Manukau has reopened after a crash which killed one person and hospitalised seven.

Strong quake hits off Indonesia but no tsunami warning
A strong earth quake has struck in waters off Indonesia.

Thirteen dead after drug-related violence in Acapulco
Thirteen people have been killed in an outbreak of drug-related violence in the Mexican beach resort of Acapulco say officials.

Call for study of religion in primary schools
The Catholic Education Office and a Victoria University academic are joining calls for educators to focus on the study of religion in primary schools.

Interference claim over checkpoint delay
A senior police officer has been accused of abusing his power by taking another officer to task for stopping his friend at a police checkpoint.

Diverted plane's passengers booked on flights to capital
Ninety-nine passengers stranded in Auckland after their Sydney-to-Wellington flight was diverted because of possible defects are being booked on flights to Wellington on Sunday.

Thousand applicants for top super-city jobs
More than 1000 applications have been received for the most senior jobs in Auckland's super-city council.

Remove legal barriers, urge nurses
Nurses are calling on the Government to remove legislative barriers that prevent them from getting urgent help for rural patients.

Police want tavern's licence taken away
Police in Dunedin want the on-licence held by the well-known student haunt, the Captain Cook Tavern, suspended or cancelled.

Moon sculpture taken down for good
A $27,000 public artwork in the Auckland suburb of Glen Innes has been permanently removed after pieces of it kept falling off.

Trench under War Memorial Park favoured
Wellington City Council is pushing for a new, more expensive option for the proposed War Memorial Park in central Wellington.

internet providers launch child porn filter
Two small internet service providers have become the first to operate a Department of Internal Affairs internet filter introduced to block child pornography.

Cave concert gets nod despite objections
A dub and reggae concert in a cave at Dunedin's Long Beach has been granted resource consent by Dunedin City Council despite concerns from some locals.

Afghan president to allow foreigners on election panel
Afghan President Hamid Karzai has agreed to let two foreigners join a panel monitoring forthcoming parliamentary elections, reversing an earlier decision.

Tongan councl rejects Key super-city claim
The Tongan Advisory Council says Prime Minister John Key is on another planet if he thinks the Auckland super-city will allow more Maori and Pacific Islanders to be elected on to its council.

Iraqi prime minister ahead in vote-counting
Partial results from Iraq's election show Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki's coalition is ahead in Baghdad, which accounts for 20% of parliament's seats.

NZ cricketers end series with a win against Australia
New Zealand beat Australia by 51 runs in the one-day cricket international in Wellington on Saturday.

Australian Greens leader backs anti-whaling activist
Australian Greens leader, Bob Brown, says he is backing an international campaign to free a New Zealand anti-whaling activist arrested in Japan.

More suicide bomb fatalities in Pakistan
A suicide bomber targeting security forces in Pakistan's Swat Valley has killed at least 10 people.

California sues Toyota over defective vehicles
Prosecutors in California are suing the world's largest carmaker, Toyota, over allegations that it knowingly sold hundreds of thousands of defective vehicles.

Tasman rower set for Ninety Mile Beach landfall
The support crew of a trans-Tasman rower, Shaun Quincey, say they are now sure he will make it to New Zealand.

Police say bikers at rally generally well behaved
Police in Nelson say Saturday's motorbike rally, threatened with violence by a group calling themselves the Southern Skinheads, has passed off without incident.

Waihopai defendant also protested at Pine Gap
One of the men charged over an attack on the Waihopai spy base in 2008 has told a jury he also joined in protest action at the Pine Gap spy base in Australia in 2006.

TVNZ's public broadcasting role up for discussion
The Minister of Broadcasting says the cabinet is looking at making Television New Zealand's channel 7, and possibly channel 6, public service broadcasting entities.

Thousands flock to Wild Foods Festival
Up to 14,000 people attended the 21st Wild Foods Festival on the South Island's West Coast on Saturday.

Lower South Island now faces storm battering
Just hours after a severe storm lashed Wellington, a fresh bout of strong winds is forecast for the south of the South Island.

Wellington harbour's big clean-up
About 40 volunteers, including divers, came together at Wellington's Evans Bay on Saturday to clean up the capital's harbour.

Scientists 'read' people's memories in brain activity
A group of British scientists say they have developed a computer programme that can read people's memories by looking at their brain activity.

Recession still hitting Maori hard, says report
The Council of Social Services' fourth-quarter Vulnerability Report shows the recession continuing to hit Maori hard.

Rock star reception for pioneering astronaut
The second man to walk on the moon, Buzz Aldrin, says commercial space flights are key to the future of space exploration and the push to reach Mars.

McClay appears in court in fraud charges
Former government minister Roger McClay has appeared in court accused of fraudulently claiming mileage expenses from charities while getting air travel subsidies from the public purse for the same trips. He denies the charges.

Russia to build 16 nuclear reactors in India
Russia has announced plans to build 16 nuclear reactors in India. The announcement came during a visit to Delhi by the Russian prime minister, Vladimir Putin.

Proposed Auckland city rail route revealed
The preferred route for Auckland's proposed billion-dollar central city underground railway system has been released.

Top Bush adviser declares pride in waterboarding
A senior adviser to former American president George Bush says he's proud of the harsh interrogation techniques such as waterboarding that were used to get information from suspected terrorists.

More calls to keep youth health centre open
The Mental Health Foundation says young people will miss out on help if a free youth health centre in Christchurch closes. The 198 centre is facing bankruptcy and may have to close at the end of April.

German church apologizes for sexual abuse
After a meeting with Pope Benedict, the head of Germany's Catholics, Archbishop Robert Zollitsch, has apologised to victims of sexual abuse by priests.

New quake hits Chile as president sworn in
A series of aftershocks has hit Chile as the country's new president Sebastian Pinera was sworn in.

US sharply rebukes Israel over new settlements
The American Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, has sharply criticised Israel's decision to build new settlements in occupied east Jerusalem.

Haiti situation still dire, says US president
US President Barack Obama has warned of a second disaster in Haiti, saying people should be under no illusion that the crisis there is over.

Russell remembers the battle of Kororareka
As the fourth Kororareka Festival gets under way, the people of Russell are remembering the 1845 battle that levelled their Bay of Islands township.

Greens question Westpac bid to change bill
The Green Party is criticising a Westpac bid to change a bill aimed at protecting people with life insurance and boosting confidence in the insurance sector.

Southland considers user-pays water system
Southland Regional Council plans to implement a user-pays system to charge for water and wants ratepayers' feedback on the idea.

Council told not to dump treated effluent in river
Northland Regional Council says it cannot allow the dumping of treated effluent into Kaitaia's drought-stricken Awanui River.

Governments urged to tighten plant import rules
A British expert says a major review is needed of how countries handle the importation of plant materials, to protect forests from devastating diseases.

US hopes deal will lead to Asia-Pacific agreement
The United States hopes negotiations for a trans-Pacific trade deal involving New Zealand will eventually lead to a much wider regional agreement.

Pilot killed in light plane crash named
The man who died in a light plane crash in Northland on Friday has been named as Stacy Jarrod Hopper. The crash happened shortly after takeoff at Marsden Cove Marina south of Whangarei.

Marac approved under deposit guarantee scheme
Pyne Gould's finance arm Marac Finance has been approved under the extended retail deposit guarantee scheme.

Airline industry loss estimate halved
The International Air Transport Association has halved its forecast losses for the beleaguered industry this year.

Obama urges China to relax grip on its currency
US President Barack Obama has urged China to change its currency strategy to help re-balance the global economy.

Lincoln, Telford in merger plan
Lincoln University and Telford Rural Polytechnic based in South Otago are considering the case for a merger, which could take effect next year.

Dunedin fashion week needs a long-term sponsor
The organisers of ID Dunedin Fashion Week are optimistic about its future, despite difficulties attracting a long-term principal sponsor.

New light thrown on risk of stroke
New research published in the British medical journal the Lancet suggests that people with fluctuating blood pressure may be more at risk of stroke than people with consistently high readings.

Former cigarette salesman says Maori targeted
The Maori Affairs Select Committee inquiry into the impact of smoking on Maori has been told the tobacco industry deliberately targets Maori.

Pink Floyd wins case against EMI
British band Pink Floyd has won a legal battle against its record label, EMI, over royalties paid for internet downloads.

Graeme Hart still Australasia's richest person
New Zealander Graeme Hart has retained his place as Australasia's richest man in the Forbes magazine billionaires list, though he dropped to 144th place.

Hellaby Holdings looks to fund expansion
The owner of shoe stores Hannahs and No 1 Shoes hopes to raise cash from shareholders later this year to fund expansion plans.

'Serious lapses' by Lehman executives, auditors
A report on the collapse of the American investment bank Lehman Brothers criticises senior executives and the auditor Ernst and Young for serious lapses that led to the firm's downfall.

$55m hotel bookings for Rugby World Cup
Rugby World Cup organisers say $55 million worth of hotel bookings have so far been taken for next year's tournament.

Wider debate on offensive language sought
The Race Relations Commissioner is calling for more public discussion about how the use of offensive language can be dealt with.

Total number of criminals not on rise - report
A new report from the Department of Corrections suggests that the number of criminals in New Zealand is not on the rise.

Supermarket advertising complaint upheld
The Advertising Standards Authority has upheld a complaint from one of New Zealand's supermarket chains about its rival.

Large breweries to raise beer prices
DB Breweries and Lion Nathan are to raise the price of beer sold in cans and glass bottles, blaming the cost of raw materials.

Industry groups support tertiary funding change
Employment organisations say a change to funding tertiary institutions partly on student performance will result in a better qualified workforce.

Daihatsu cars being recalled not sold in NZ
Toyota says a recall of cars in Japan built by its Daihatsu subsidiary does not affect new vehicles in New Zealand but may be a problem for used imports.

China's oil demand jumps by 'astonishing' 28%
The International Energy Agency says China's demand for oil jumped by what it calls an astonishing 28% in January, compared with the same month a year earlier.

Compensation for 9/11 rescue, cleanup personnel
Compensation has been agreed for the thousands of people caught up in the aftermath of the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York in September 2001.

Guest nights hit record
New figures show overnight stays in hotels and motels reached a record high in January.

First of new fire command vehicles commissioned
The Fire Service has rolled out its first new command vehicle, which will be one of 17 in operation nationwide by the end of next year.

Rugby terror stunt 'incredibly stupid' - Minister
Police Minister Judith Collins says a stunt staged by the Sunday Star Times newspaper, involving people masquerading as terrorists at Super 14 rugby games, was incredibly stupid.

Churches to give health message to Pacific people
A Pacific Island Health strategy launched on Friday is to be promoted by churches.

Govt considers longer sentence for knife possession
The Government is considering tougher penalties for knife possession.

Pilot dies, car hit in Northland plane crash
A light plane crashed into a car soon after take off, killing the pilot and slightly injuring three people in the vehicle, in Northland on Friday.

House sales fall
The latest house sale figures suggest investors are sitting out the property market while they wait to see the effect of proposed tax changes.

Retail spending rises slightly in January
Retail sales rose a seasonally-adjusted 0.8% in January, Statistics New Zealand says.

The Warehouse makes $57m proft
New Zealand's largest listed retailer, The Warehouse, has made a $57.4 million profit in the six months to the end of January.

Auckland region dairy industry awards announced
After a 12-year break, Auckland Hauraki sharemilkers of the year Dave and Lisa Ritchie have made a successful return to dairy farming by winning one of the region's dairy industry awards.

Zespri anticipates strong kiwifruit demand
Kiwifruit marketer Zespri is expecting growers to produce similar volumes to last year, although it anticipates none of the problems with selling the fruit given the brighter economic situation in its key international markets.

Stronger dollar erodes wool prices
A stronger dollar helped to pull down prices at this week's North and South Island wool sales.

NZ sharemarket creeps up
The benchmark NZX 50 index was up 2 points to 3225 at the close of trading on Friday.

Govt wants more patients treated in community
Health Minister Tony Ryall has told a rural GPs' conference in Christchurch he expects more patients will be treated by primary health providers, as demand for healthcare increases.

Line reopens after wine train derailed
The Main Trunk Line near Palmerston North has reopened after being closed for nearly 24 hours by a train which derailed, spilling wine from four wagons.

Police, SPCA lay charges laid over dog killings
Two men are facing court charges from both the SPCA and police over what was labelled a mass slaughter of dogs north of Auckland.

Balcony fall now homicide inquiry
Police have upgraded their investigation into how a man fell from the balcony of a flat in Auckland to a homicide inquiry following his death in hospital.

Iraq results indicate close race
Early results from the Iraqi parliamentary election on Sunday suggest a tight contest is developing between incumbent Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki and his main challenger, Ayad Allawi.

Govt on track with spending curb plans - English
Finance Minister Bill English says the Government is following a plan it laid out 12 months ago to control spending growth.

Education minister fronts up over national standards
Education Minister Anne Tolley has been holding public meetings around the country in a bid to allay fears about the new national standards.

Data stick crashed 3000 hospital computers
Waikato District Health Board has confirmed that the origin of a computer virus that crashed its system for three days, causing major disruption, was a USB stick.

Jobs to go at agricultural research centre
The country's main agricultural research provider AgResearch is proposing to cut more than 40 jobs, mainly in meat and wool research.

Sluggish recovery in housing market, figures suggest
Latest figures suggest momentum in the housing market is starting to fade.

Wealthy retiree visas to be audited - minister
Immigration Minister Jonathan Coleman says audits will ensure money invested by wealthy foreign retirees under two new immigration visas stays in the country.

Turkey and Sweden in genocide row
Turkey has withdrawn its ambassador to Sweden after the Swedish parliament voted narrowly to describe as genocide the killing of Armenians in World War I.

Rural health scholarship honours GP
The Rural General Practice Network is hosting the launch of a special trust fund to encourage a new generation of healthcare workers into rural areas.

Friday's newspaper headlines
Government reviews over-65s travel subsidy; new high-speed internet link planned between NZ and Australia; knife crime report greeted with scepticism.

Meat and Wool NZ gains two women directors
The farmer-funded industry good body, Meat and Wool New Zealand, has two new women directors on its board.

Food product development centres to be set up
A Manukau-based fruit and vegetable processor says a Government initiative to help smaller businesses develop and test new food products will boost its exports from New Zealand.

ANZ picks up worst transnational company award
ANZ bank has taken out the country's least sought after business accolade - the 2009 Roger Award for New Zealand's worst transnational company.

Australia retains Chappell-Hadlee Trophy
Australia has won the fourth one day match in Auckland with six wickets and 17 balls to spare, holding on to the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy.

Auckland super city finalised, but Rodney to fight
The Auckland super city is to have more politicians and local boards in response to community calls for better representation. However, Rodney District Council will seek a law change allowing it to break away.

Battle to save tree goes to High Court
An environmental group has been granted an interim High Court injuction while it challenges an Auckland City Council decision about a pohutukawa tree.

Pair charged after balcony fall
Two men have been charged with assault after a man was seriously injured in a fall from an Auckland balcony.

No single cause of SH36 rock fall found
A Department of Labour report into a rock fall that injured three people and closed closed State Highway 36 in the Bay of Plenty last year, has found all practical safety steps were taken.

Kiwibank seeks $150m funding from public
Kiwibank is seeking to raise up to $150 million from the public in order to reduce its reliance on Government funding.

Manufacturing continues to expand
Activity in the manufacturing sector continued to gain momentum in February, but some businesses are still struggling.

Securities Commission reminds KiwiSaver managers to behave
The Securities Commission will issue guidance to all KiwiSaver fund managers this week, reminding them of their ethical and behavioural duties to the public.

More interest in NZ from rich migrants - minister
Immigration Minister Jonathan Coleman says looser immigration rules are attracting more wealthy foreigners to consider living and investing in New Zealand

TUANZ makes last push on mobile phone charges
The Telecommunications Users Association is making one last attempt to convince the Government to regulate the cost of switching between mobile phone networks.

Insurers face huge Chile quake bill
The world's second largest re-insurer, Swiss Re, estimates the earthquake in Chile may cost the global insurance industry as much as $US7 billion.

Clover pest confirmed in Southland
One of the country's worst pasture pests, the clover root weevil, has been confirmed at several sites in the Gore area.

Watties celebrates 75 years of Hawkes Bay peaches
Fruit and vegetable processor Watties is celebrating its diamond anniversary of processing golden queen peaches in Hawke's Bay.

Kiwifruit growers get improved payout
Bay of Plenty kiwifruit and avocado co-operative Satara says strong cost control and disciplined spending has has allowed it to increase returns to grower shareholders for the 2009 season.

New book tells history of NZ shearing industry
A book documenting the history of New Zealand's shearing industry from the 1850s to present-day world record holders has been launched.

UK officials failed to act over 24 years of abuse
Authorities in Britain have apologised for failing to help two women repeatedly raped by their father over a period of 24 years.

$21 million for food innovation scheme
The Government will spend up to $21 million over the next five years on an initiative to boost the development of new food products for export.

Member's bill targets loan sharks
A Labour Party MP is trying to build support for her bill to crack down on loan sharks and set maximum interest rates on lending.

Education Ministry chief warns of redundancies
Education Ministry chief executive Karen Sewell says there will be redundancies as it tries to slash millions in spending, but admits the exact number will not be known for some time.

Extension to 9-day fortnight scheme ruled out
Cabinet has turned down a request by some businesses to extend the nine-day fortnight scheme.

Not enough cars for South Auckland police, says Labour
The Labour Party says the Government needs to give police in South Auckland more cars so they can do their job properly. The Police Minister says 43 extra cars have been provided for.

Reserve Bank holds interest rates steady
The Reserve Bank has left the benchmark interest on hold at 2.5% and reiterated it expects to start hiking the cost of borrowing from the middle of the year.

Tobacco ban risks black market, MPs told
The country's largest tobacco company says if tobacco is banned in New Zealand it will only help grow an already established black market.

Hokitika school refuses Gardasil vaccinations
The principal of Westland High School says its board changed its mind about allowing anti-cervical cancer immunisation to be given on school premises, saying it doesn't want to be seen to endorse the vaccine.

Woman pleads guilty to disposing of baby's body
A 27-year-old woman has pleaded guilty in Christchurch District Court to disposing of the body of a baby boy with intent to conceal his birth.

Maori imprisonment rate 'bad look', says de Bres
Race Relations Commissioner Joris de Bres is warning the current imprisonment rate for Maori is putting New Zealand in a bad light internationally.

Wanted: 1000 new Maori health workers
A national programme to boost the number of Maori working in the health sector has been launched in Auckland.

Self defence laws should remain unchanged - ministry
The Ministry of Justice is recommending that the laws surrounding self defence not be changed.

Marae youth courts delight long-time proponent
The launch of youth court sittings on West Auckland's Hoani Waititi Marae was the realisation of a dream for a champion of marae-based courts.

Strike halts services in Greece again
Public and transport services have halted in Greece for the second time in a month as thousands of state and private workers hold a general strike, in protest at the government's austerity measures.

Asia now source of most new billionaires
Nearly two-thirds of the world's new billionaires come from Asia, according to the annual list of the world's richest people by the American business magazine Forbes. However, Mexican telecoms billionaire Carlos Slim tops the latest list.

International climate body to be reviewed
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has asked the world's science academies to review work of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Nigeria urged to prevent massacres
International pressure is mounting on the Nigerian government over recent mass killings near the city of Jos.

China firm denies World Cup sweatshop claim
A Chinese company has denied it exploited workers in making the mascot for the 2010 World Football Cup in South Africa.

Call for Vanuatu paramilitary to be investigated
The Vanuatu Coroner says the Government needs to rein in the police paramilitary unit, the Vanuatu Mobile Force, following the death of a prisoner in its custody.

Lost Boys actor Corey Haim dies
Actor Corey Haim, who starred in the movie The Lost Boys, has died aged 38.

'Miracle' elephant calf moving about
A senior vet at Sydney's Taronga Zoo says experts were stumped by the survival of an elephant calf after earlier announcing that it had died in the womb. Keepers have nicknamed him Mr Shuffles.

'Worrying' increase in number of female prisoners
The Corrections Department says a rise in the female prison population is both surprising and alarming.

Pacific cable 13,000km long proposed for broadband
Households and businesses could get unlimited, low-cost broadband with plans for a new undersea fibre-optic cable linking New Zealand to the wider world.

Priest 'not' anti-American, despite Waihopai attack
A Catholic priest who attacked the Waihopai spy base in Marlborough in 2008 has told a jury he is not anti-American in outlook.

Allied to be considered for listing at next NZX review
Stock market operator NZX says it will consider the inclusion of Allied Farmers in its top 50 index when it next reviews the list in June.

Burglars run from grandmother
The actions of a West Auckland grandmother have contributed to arrest of two burglars who had broken into her home.

NZ sharemarket dips slightly
The benchmark NZX 50 index closed down 3 points (0.1%) to 3223 on turnover of $65 million on Thursday.

Food prices fall in February
The cost of food in New Zealand fell 1.3% in February, led by cheaper fruit, vegetables and meat. It was the sixth fall in seven months.

Council 'too slow to act' on complaints over doctor
The Health and Disability Commission says the Medical Council should have responded more quickly to its warnings about an Auckland doctor with 16 complaints against him.

Rescue procedures sound, says official
Land Search and Rescue says a coroner's recommendation to change how decisions are made about launching rescues is unnecessary.

NZers expelled from Morocco
An Auckland couple who say they were forced to leave Morocco because of their work at a children's orphanage have arrived in Spain.

More little spotted kiwi moved to Motuihe Is
A group of 26 little spotted kiwi are being relocated from their native home on Kapiti Island to Motuihe Island, in Auckland's Hauraki Gulf.

Few new jobs in Australia last month
Just 400 new jobs were created in Australia during February, but a small fall in the participation rate has kept unemployment roughly steady at 5.3%.

Wellywood sign investigated by US trademark owners
The trademark owner of the globally-recognised Hollywood sign in Los Angeles has referred the planned Wellington copy to its lawyers.

Few unemployed getting work on cycle project
Only a small number of people registered as unemployed are getting work on the National Cycle Trail project, documents reveal.

'Jihad Jane' charged with terror offences
An American woman has been charged with conspiring with Islamic extremists to commit murder.

US condemns Israeli settlement plan
US Vice President Joe Biden has repeated his condemnation of Israel's decision to authorise new housing units for Jewish settlers in East Jerusalem.

Aid agency suspends work in Pakistan after attack
Aid agency World Vision has suspended operations in Pakistan after an attack on its office left six staff dead.

Rural GPs to question Minister on funding
The Rural General Practice Network is concerned that staff shortages will get worse in the coming months, as the Health Minister signals they need to share the financial pain caused by the recession.

Widespread aid corruption in Somalia - UN
A United Nations report says up to half the food aid in Somalia is routinely diverted to corrupt contractors, Islamist workers and local UN workers.

UK currency continues to fall
Britain's economic woes and ongoing political worries has seen its currency continue to depreciate.

Student awarded $290,000 bullying compensation
A secondary school student in Australia has been awarded $A290,000 compensation over bullying incidents at a school in north-west Victoria.

Lady Gaga Nearly Collapses at New Zealand Concert
The singer, in the midst of a grueling tour, struggles to close Saturday's show

Massive icebergs floating towards coast of New Zealand
New Zealand is preparing for some rare spring visitors.

Major quake strikes off New Zealand
A major earthquake struck off the coast of New Zealand's South Island Wednesday night, rattling residents and prompting a tsunami warning that was later canceled.

Olympic hopeful opens brothel to pay for training
A cash-strapped Olympic hopeful in New Zealand says he has been forced to open a brothel to fund his bid for taekwondo glory in 2012, but officials say his entry into the sex trade could mean his exit from international sport.

Strong quake rattles New Zealand region
A 6.7-magnitude earthquake rocked New Zealand's remote Kermadec Islands region Saturday afternoon, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Killer gunman found dead inside New Zealand home
A killer gunman at the center of a two-day standoff with police has been found dead inside his home, New Zealand police said Saturday.

Dollar gains on swine flu concerns
The dollar and yen strengthened broadly Monday on rising risk aversion as concern grew that an outbreak of swine flu in Mexico could become a global pandemic, while the Mexican peso fell sharply.

Woman gives birth on airliner, leaves baby in trash
Fate, police say, saved baby Grace from being tossed out with the trash.

Recent history of cricket and terrorism
The ambush by up to a dozen gunmen of a bus carrying members of the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore is the realization of fears long held by the sport's leading players.

NZ PM's mishap is lucky break for charity
An Internet auction to sell off the plaster cast that New Zealand Prime Minister John Key wore when he broke his right arm has raised close to NZ$ 20,000 for charity.

Prehistoric-Age Reptile Found in New Zealand
A rare reptile with lineage dating back to the dinosaur age has been found nesting on the New Zealand mainland for the first time in about 200 years

Wacky new airline stunts
If your November travel plans include a flight out of Los Angeles, don't be surprised to find yourself standing behind a bald, tattooed human billboard.

7.3 Quake Strikes Outer New Zealand Islands
A 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck near New Zealand's remote and largely uninhabited Kermadec Islands early Tuesday, New Zealand's GNS Science geological agency said

Tainted Milk Fears Spread to Britain, New Zealand
The British supermarket chain Tesco pulled a Chinese candy from its shelves and New Zealand said Wednesday it found dangerously high levels of the industrial chemical melamine in the same brand, as fears over tainted milk spread beyond Asia

NZ judge backs girl over 'embarrassing' name
A New Zealand judge has made a 9-year-old girl a ward of the court so that her name can be changed from Talula Does the Hula From Hawaii, the country's national news agency reported Thursday.

Earpiece girl, 8, ejected from tennis tournament
An eight-year-old girl was ejected from a junior tennis tournament in New Zealand when officials discovered she was wearing a hidden radio earpiece to receive instructions from her father.

Scientists Discover Volcano Starfish
Marine scientists surveying a large undersea mountain chain were amazed to find millions of tiny starfish swirling their arms to capture food in the undersea current

Canyoning Tragedy in New Zealand
Six college students and a teacher are killed by a "rain bomb" while on a school-sponsored outdoor adventure

U.S. deports wife killer suspect
A man accused of killing his wife in New Zealand and then abandoning the couple's 3-year-old daughter at an Australian train station has been deported to New Zealand to face murder charges, U.S. immigration officials announced Sunday.

'Pumpkin's' dad to be extradited
A man arrested in the U.S. after a months-long, intercontinental manhunt will be deported to New Zealand to face murder charges in the death of his wife, authorities told CNN Friday.

'Pumpkin's' fugitive father caught in U.S.
A man accused of killing his wife in New Zealand and then abandoning the couple's 3-year-old daughter at an Australian train station has been captured in suburban Atlanta, authorities said.

New Zealand rocked by huge quake
Buildings collapsed, power lines were knocked out and gas pipes ruptured when a powerful earthquake hit the northeastern coast of New Zealand late Thursday.

New Zealand warns on Chinese toothpaste
New Zealand on Wednesday asked retailers and consumers to dispose of 11 brands of Chinese-made toothpaste after tests confirmed they contained toxic chemicals.

Walking -- but not roughing it -- in New Zealand
Something keeps drawing me back to New Zealand. I suspect something always will.

Volcano erupts in NZ, one missing
One person was missing Friday after a volcano erupted on a largely uninhabited New Zealand island, according to television reports.

Eating with food miles in mind
Next time you are out for dinner on a business trip, you may find that the food on your plate has traveled further than you have.

Spy blunder?
It started with two Israelis convicted of trying illegally to obtain a New Zealand passport -- a valuable commodity in the world of international spy craft that can open up doors often closed to Israeli passport holders.

New Zealand's Neil Finn: 'I'm a lifer'
The musical dynasty of the Finns represents rock royalty in New Zealand.

Vacations For The Soul Forget fruity rum drinks. Here are six ways to have fun and still do some good.
Count Dolphins EARTHWATCH INSTITUTE www.earthwatch.org; 800-776-0188

HOW TO FIND IT ON THE INTERNET THERE'S A VAST AND GROWING TROVE OF ONLINE INFORMATION YOU CAN USE TO TRACK THE
Ever get a sneaking suspicion that the only difference between you and an economic pundit is that the pundit has all the facts and figures, and you don't? Like maybe the world economy could be your...

YIELD OF THE MONTH FOR SAVERS WILLING TO TAKE A LITTLE RISK A LONG-DISTANCE TELEPHONE CALL
Based in one of the smallest industrial nations, Telecom Corp. of New Zealand (recently traded as an American Depositary Receipt on the New York Stock Exchange at $48; symbol: nzt) is no small comp...

UP FROM DOWN UNDER Can Australia and New Zealand run with Asia's sprinters? They're both trying, but the Kiwis
AUSTRALIA and New Zealand, two daughters of Mother England perched on the Pacific's southern rim, are desperately seeking answers to two tough questions. First, who are they? Says Nobby Clark, mana...

A Bond Voyage to High Yields For a shot at double digits, try one of the new foreign fixed-income funds.
How does a 25% yield on 30-day New Zealand bank bills grab you? Or 14.3% on a three-year Australian government bond? To be sure, those are extreme examples of risky recent returns in foreign bonds ...

125 Beached Whales Die in New Zealand, but Rescuers Coax 43 Others Back to Sea
The surviving polit whales were wrapped in sheets to keep them dry until they could be refloated at high tide.

New Zealand Struggles to Keep Wine Prices Up
Wineries are fighting to preserve their reputation as premium wine producers, even as bumper harvests and thrifty drinkers pull them in the opposite direction.

Apology Opens Wounds of British Migrant Program
Officials disagree on whether governments should compensate people who were uprooted as children and sent overseas, where many were abused.

New Zealand Qualifies for Cup; Cameroon and Nigeria Advance
New Zealand reached the World Cup for the first time since 1982, and Cameroon and Nigeria also qualified Saturday for next year’s showcase in South Africa.

Australians Stay No. 1 in the Limited Overs Format
By winning the Champions Trophy over New Zealand, Australian cricket showed that it remains supreme at the one-day international played over 50 six-ball overs apiece.

From Deep Pacific, Ugly and Tasty, With a Catch
A deepwater Pacific fish used in fast-food sandwiches and sushi has touched off arguments over the sustainability of the catch.

Bemis in Deal With Rio Tinto to Buy Its U.S. Packaging Unit
Bemis, a Midwestern packaging maker, said late Sunday that it had agreed to buy the American operations of Alcan Packaging, a unit of Rio Tinto, for $1.2 billion in cash and stock.

Airline Has Nothing to Hide. Really.
The in-flight safety instructional video and a companion ad series show employees of Air New Zealand unclothed, concealed only by body-painted uniforms and strategically placed props.

U.S. Declares Public Health Emergency Over Swine Flu
U.S. health officials said that they had confirmed 20 cases of swine flu in the country and expected to see more as investigators track the path of the outbreak.

Dynamic Duo
The comedy team talks about how to make it in Manhattan, why New Zealanders don’t like their own accents and why the government should do its own TV show.

Company at Core of China’s Milk Scandal Is Declared Bankrupt
The dairy company is being sued by parents hoping to be paid compensation for the illnesses or deaths of their children.

New Zealand Cuts Interest Rates
New Zealand’s central bank cut its interest rates on Thursday, joining policy makers around the world seeking to lower the cost of borrowing to bolster their slowing economies.

Obama’s Election Inspires an Indigenous Party in New Zealand
The Maori minority approached New Zealand’s elections on Saturday with a chance to secure the balance of power, inspired by Barack Obama’s victory.

Nikkei Index Falls in Early Trading
Japan's Nikkei 225 stock index falls almost 5 percent in first hour of trading to 11,185.62 in response to US House of Representatives rejection of $700 billion financial bailout package and plunge in United States markets; Bank of Japan tries to calm investors by pumping $19 billion into credit markets, adding to roughly $170 billion it has already provided in recent weeks; benchmark indexes in South Korea, Australia and New Zealand all fall more than 4 percent

Friendly Invaders
New research suggests that exotic species, instead of causing extinctions, may actually aid diversity.

Jail for sale - investors face 18-year stretch
At last ordinary New Zealanders can now purchase a stake in a prison or a hospital or a school via the ground-breaking New Zealand Social Infrastruc

Power watchdog doubts bill's worth
The Government's proposals to rein in steep electricity price rises for domestic consumers won't work and may in fact have the opposite effect, says consumer advocate and Electricity Commission adviser Molly Melhuish.Parliament's...

Sharples kept in dark over 3-strikes moves
Associate Corrections Minister Pita Sharples was not consulted about the amendments to the Government's three-strikes bill before it was announced in January, documents show.The Labour Party says it is "astounding" that Dr Sharples...

1500 public service jobs axed, and more to go
The Government is promising more cuts to core public service jobs after saying yesterday that it had cut almost 1500 jobs last year and a further 130 Ministry of Health jobs will go in the next 15 months.But the Opposition and...

Tolley stays on message to blunt Labour attack
When Parliament suddenly goes pin-droppingly silent - as it did yesterday - it is a fair bet someone is in serious strife or at least teetering on the brink of it.Such a funereal hush enveloped the chamber during ministers' question...

Garth George : Key needs to give some straight answers
The National-led Government appears to have lost its way. It seems to me that Prime Minister John Key's intricate and inclusive coalition arrangement, rather than ensuring National's re-election next year, is shaping up to generate...

Engineers question Waitaki power plan
Only once did laughter break out during the finance and expenditure select committee's three hours of hearings yesterday into the Government's plans to restructure the electricity industry.A former member of the Electricity Commission,...

KiwiSaver big part of retirement plan
The economic events of the past two years have provided a reality check and left many New Zealanders feeling unprepared for retirement, according to a survey by Mercer.By the same token, these events and the introduction of KiwiSaver...

Brian Fallow: Static OCR holds a sting in its tale
At first blush it looks like good news for exporters: Governor Alan Bollard's expectation that he will not have to push the official cash rate so high over the next few years.It is because there is a much wider margin than there...

MP: Mum bullied into switching phone companies
National MP John Carter has accused telecommuncations provider Slingshot of aggressive tele-marketing and bullying his 86-year-old mother into transferring the home phone line to a Slingshot account.At the end of last year, a...

Health ministry cuts proposed as Govt talks up sinking lid
There will be more cuts in the number of public servants, but the Government is not willing to say how many more jobs will be lost.It was announced today that 130 jobs would be going from the Health Ministry, as the Government...

Anti-whaling protest staged outside PM's office
Greenpeace has brought anti-whaling protest back on to New Zealand soil, staging a mock-up of Prime Minister John Key harpooning a whale outside his Auckland electorate office.New Zealand, alongside Australia, met with the International...

Power highlights NZ's human rights record at UN
New Zealand's record on human rights and challenges it faced were highlighted today as Justice Minister Simon Power spoke at the United Nations.Early today - noon Tuesday in New York - Mr Power presented a report to the UN human...

Inmate voting bill moves on
National MP Paul Quinn's private members bill which would prevent all prison inmates from voting in general elections is set to reach select committee stage tonight. Prisoners serving a sentence of three years or more are prevented...

Editorial : $300,000 to ride the bandwagon
The Government has a technique for brushing aside issues that it would rather not confront. We have no time for this; there are far more important things to deal with, it will say. How, then, to explain the Prime Minister taking...

Former Green candidate dies diving for paua
A former Green Party parliamentary candidate died yesterday while diving for shellfish to feed workers redeveloping a Hawkes Bay marae.Bevan Tipene, a 40-year-old father-of-three, was in the sea at Blackhead Point, near Porangahau,...

Charles in charge
It is apparently easier for the media to alight on a story of MP Charles Chauvel telling a child to "shut up" on a flight this week than it is for them to

Maori ministry to run Whanau Ora
The Ministry of Maori Development, Te Puni Kokiri, not the Ministry of Social Development, will be responsible for the Whanau Ora social services policy, the Herald understands.And the policy will be piloted in up to half a...

Fran O'Sullivan: Hide's Super City merger mess
It is hard to fathom why John Key continues to allow the leader of a minority party to drive the biggest "corporate" merger in New Zealand's history when he is making such a pig's arse of it.It was never going to be easy to merge...

After the Beehive, some cake designing perhaps?
He probably should not give up his day job, but Prime Minister John Key has won some encouragement from experts for his artistic endeavour.Mr Key has donated a sketch called Beehive 10 to an art auction to raise money for Christchurch's...

Capital: Wellington

Largest City: Auckland

New Zealand is a country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two large islands (the North Island and the South Island) and numerous smaller islands, most notably Stewart Island / Rakiura and the Chatham Islands. The indigenous Ma-ori named New Zealand Aotearoa, which is usually translated into English as The Land of the Long White Cloud. The Realm of New Zealand also includes the Cook Islands and Niue, which are self-governing but in free association; Tokelau; and the Ross Dependency (New Zealand's territorial claim in Antarctica).

New Zealand is notable for its geographic isolation, being separated from Australia to the northwest by the Tasman Sea, approximately 2000 kilometres (1250 miles) across. Its closest neighbours to the north are New Caledonia, Fiji and Tonga.

The population is mostly of European descent, with the indigenous Ma-ori being the largest minority. Asians and non-Maori Polynesians are also significant minorities, especially in the cities. Elizabeth II, as the Queen of New Zealand, is the Head of State and, in her absence, is represented by a non-partisan Governor-General. The Queen 'reigns but does not rule.' She has no real political influence, and her position is largely symbolic. Political power is held by the democratically-elected Parliament of New Zealand under the leadership of the Prime Minister, who is the Head of Government.

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NewZealand