Rugby: Red and Blacks triumph in Air NZ Cup finale
Canterbury 28 Wellington 20 Canterbury efficiently retained rugby's Air NZ Cup when they beat Wellington 28-20 at Christchurch tonight.The defending champions virtually sealed their fifth national title when fullback Colin...

Aussie sets new 50m backstroke record
MOSCOW - Australian swimmer Marieke Guehrer set a new shortcourse world record of 26.17 seconds for the women's 50-metre backstroke at the Moscow leg of FINA's World Cup series.Guehrer's time broke the previous best world mark...

Cycling: Blackgrove eyes Tour of Southland title
American-based professional Heath Blackgrove has taken a decisive step towards his first Tour of Southland cycling title. The Zookeepers' rider has finished in a five-man leading group more than a minute ahead of the chasing peloton.This...

Cricket: McCullum powers NZ to victory
Opener Brendan McCullum's 131 has helped New Zealand beat Pakistan by 64 runs and send their short one-day international series to a decider on Monday.McCullum's 131 off 129 deliveries led the Black Caps to 303-8, then Scott Styris...

League: Matai cleared for Four Nations
Kiwis' centre Steve Matai has been cleared to resume training and will be available for next week's Four Nations league final should New Zealand qualify.The 25-year-old has been sidelined since an eye injury forced him from the...

All Blacks to wear poppies in Welsh test
CARDIFF - The All Blacks will join their Welsh rivals in wearing poppies on their rugby jerseys here tomorrow as the teams mark Remembrance Day with a pre-test ceremony.All Blacks manager Darren Shand said the team had agreed...

Rugby: 14-team NPC likely for 2010
Putting the flop into flip-flop, it is increasingly likely the national provincial rugby championship will stay at 14 teams next year.Serious doubts are now being raised about the ability of two Heartland provinces to join the...

All Blacks: Williams - back three can damage All Blacks
Mercurial Welsh rugby winger Shane Williams is braced for an aerial bombardment from Dan Carter, but warns their speedy back three can do some damage to the All Blacks' defence tomorrow.The 2008 International Rugby Board player...

Tour of Southland enters final day
The 2009 Tour of Southland is set for a thrilling conclusion.American-based professional Heath Blackgrove holds an 11 second lead over Marc Ryan heading into today's final two stages. Former tour leader Jack Bauer is third,...

Squash: Beaten Gaultier slams refs
World squash No 1 Gregory Gaultier blasted the standard of refereeing in his 11-5, 11-9, 12-10 World Open semifinal defeat by Egypt's Ramy Ashour in Kuwait yesterday. "I can't believe it was such one-sided refereeing," the Frenchman...

Cricket: Whatmore linked to Kolkata
Dav Whatmore will reportedly replace fellow Australian John Buchanan as the coach of Indian Premier League team Kolkata Knight Riders. Former India and Knight Riders captain Sourav Ganguly said Whatmore would take charge of Kolkata...

Athletics: Semnya gender test row suspensions
South Africa's Olympic body has suspended the president, board and members of Athletics South Africa over the handling of 800m world champion Caster Semenya's gender tests.

Wheelchair rugby: New Zealand dump Japan
The New Zealand wheelchair rugby team have maintained their unbeaten record at the Asia Oceania championships with a 52-46 win over Japan at Christchurch yesterday. New Zealand led 29-23 at halftime, before kicking away from Japan...

Soccer: Armstrong gets full call-up
Glenfield Rovers defender Bridgette Armstrong is set to follow her father Ron as a full international after her call-up to the national women's soccer team for next week's one-off game with Japan in Tokyo. Her selection in the Football...

Soccer: Ifill stays with Phoenix
Wellington Phoenix star Paul Ifill has rejected offers from other Hyundai A-League clubs and will stay with the club until at least the end of the 2011-12 season. The British-born Barbados international has activated the one-year...

Rugby: Intrigue builds in Super horse trading
It is horse-trading time again. Having submitted their list of protected players, the five New Zealand franchises will spend Monday and Tuesday plugging holes in their squads in preparation for the Super 14.Some moves, most notably...

League: Foran expecting one-game drop
Manly teenager Kieran Foran will make his test debut for New Zealand tomorrow fully expecting to be dropped after just one game.Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney delivered a selection surprise by naming 19-year-old Foran in the centres...

Soccer: Phoenix striker on radar for qualifier
Livewire Wellington Phoenix striker Costa Barbarouses is not in Ricki Herbert's extended 23-strong All Whites squad for next week's World Cup eliminator with Bahrain but Herbert admits he would have no hesitation in calling on 19-year-old...

All Blacks: All Blacks keen to extend 56 years of hurt
Fresh from building an imposing record against the Wallabies, the All Blacks eye their legendary test rugby winning streak here determined not to be known as the side who let it slip.As much as tomorrow's test against Wales at...

Rugby: Wellington pack hoping to ambush Cantabs
A Wellington pack that has bonded well since a mid-season revamp could be the ambush factor in tonight's rugby final against Canterbury, says sidelined Lions lock Jeremy Thrush.When they met in the fifth round, Canterbury romped...

Inquiry begins into mass shooting at army base
An investigation is under way into the circumstances surrounding the mass shooting by a United States army officer at a military base in Texas.

Body may be that of missing Sounds man
Picton police say a body found in the Marlborough Sounds on Friday may be that of John Purdy, who has been missing since last week.

Slade the star as Canterbury win Air New Zealand Cup
Canterbury defeated Wellington 28-20 in the final of the Air New Zealand Cup in Christchurch on Saturday night.

Funds approved to build world's longest suspension bridge
The Italian government has earmarked a first instalment of $2.6 billion for the building of a controversial bridge linking the mainland to Sicily.

Torrential rain leads to flash flooding in NSW
The New South Wales Government has declared three centres natural disaster areas, after torrential rain led to widespread flash flooding.

NZ accuses UN of bias against Israel
New Zealand has accused a high-ranking United Nations body of being biased against Israel.

One climber saved, another found dead
The police have retrieved the body of a rock climber near Queenstown and rescued his climbing companion.

Maori Party considers action against Harawira
The Maori Party is considering taking disciplinary action against MP Hone Harawira, who remains unrepentant after going to Paris when he should have been working in Brussels and an expletive-laden email he sent about the trip.

Spikes put a stop to slow-moving police chase
Police laid spikes to stop a slow-moving stolen tow truck.

Thousands default on student loans
Thousands of people with student loans are defaulting on payments with more than $300 million overdue, a Ministry of Education report shows.

Rare paintings on show at Auckland Art Gallery
Five rare paintings by some of the world's most famous artists have gone on display at the Auckland Art Gallery.

US finds head of major drug cartel guilty
A Guatemalan man said by the United States government to have been one of the world's biggest cocaine dealers has been found guilty of conspiracy to import and sell the narcotic.

Family of slain woman helping with police search
The family of a Northland woman killed in her home are assisting police to help reconstruct the crime scene.

G20 ministers at odds over spending
Divisions have emerged among G20 finance ministers over the best ways to scale back stimulus spending.

Hide repays second tax-payer funded trip
ACT Party leader Rodney Hide has repaid more than $10,000 after taking his girlfriend to Hawaii on another taxpayer-funded trip.

Arrest made after South Otago stabbings
A man has been stabbed eight times in a fight involving a knife and a vacuum cleaner pipe in South Otago.

Swine flu on rise in Asia, WHO warns
Swine flu is on the rise in China and Japan after triggering an unusually early start to the winter influenza season in Europe, Central Asia and North America, the World Health Organisation says.

Low-lying nations appeal for help over climate change
Low-lying Pacific and Indian Ocean nations have put out a desperate call for help ahead of the United Nations' climate change talks in Copenhangen.

Doubts climate deal will be finalised in Copenhagen
New Zealand's climate change ambassador says it is unlikely a new ratifiable climate change treaty will emerge out of talks in Copenhagen in December.

China to hold robot Olympics
China is planning to hold a robot Olympics in 2010. Entry to the competition will be restricted to robots resembling humans and wheels will be banned.

Gunman arrested after shooting at Florida building
United States police have arrested a gunman who opened fire in an office building in Florida, killing one person and injuring five others.

Court staff vote to continue industrial action
Courts are facing further disruption during the next three months, after staff from the Ministry of Justice voted to continue industrial action.

Govt moves to restrict 'new generation' party pills
The Government is moving to put restrictions on so-called new generation party pills.

Footprints discovered in Nelson may be dinosaur
Scientists believe they have found 70 million-year-old dinosaur footprints - the first ever found in New Zealand.

Dispute between Telecom, lines engineers resolved
Telecom says a contract dispute between its contractor Visionstream and line engineers in Northland is over.

New building rules approved for capital's waterfront
Wellington waterfront advocates are bitterly disappointed over new building rules for North Queen's Wharf, which have been approved by three independent commissioners.

Elderly woman charged over Kapiti cyclist's death
A 70-year-old woman has been charged over the death of a cyclist on the Kapiti Coast.

Body of rare finback whale brought ashore
A whale rarely seen in New Zealand's coastal waters has been brought into Lyttelton Harbour after its body became stuck on the bow of a cargo ship.

Diplomats rally round expelled NZ envoy to Fiji
New Zealand's top diplomat for Fiji says fellow diplomats there were shocked and outraged by his expulsion and rallied to support him as he was forced to leave.

NZ Govt gives $4m extra tsunami aid to Samoa
The New Zealand Government is providing Samoa with a further $4 million for tourism reconstruction as the country begins a multi-million dollar rebuilding programme following the recent devastating tsunami.

Breakaway union accepts NZ Bus offer
One of the unions representing Auckland bus drivers has decided to take up a pay offer from their employer after breaking ranks to end a standoff.

Hitler house sale alarms residents
The sale of Adolf Hitler's family home in the Austrian town of Braunau am Inn has sparked concern that it could become a shrine for Nazi sympathisers.

Woman spared from stoning until she gives birth
Islamists in southern Somalia have stoned a man to death for adultery but spared his pregnant girlfriend until she gives birth.

US unemployment rate hits 26-year high
Latest unemployment figures for the United States are worse than expected, showing the rate rose in October to 10.2%, a new 26-year high.

Environment Court backs Otago wind farm opponents
The Environment Court has upheld an appeal against Meridian Energy's proposed Project Hayes wind farm in Central Otago.

Jury finds head-on crash driver guilty of murder
A High Court jury has found a man who caused a head-on car collision guilty of murder.

Author Ihimaera 'deeply sorry' for plagiarism
Prominent New Zealand author Witi Ihimaera says he is deeply sorry for inadvertently using other authors' material without acknowledgment in his new novel.

Scientists develop atlas of bacteria in body
Scientists have developed an atlas of the bacteria that live in different regions of the human body.

Bidder gets Nick Smith cow dung sculpture
A sculpture of Environment Minister Nick Smith made from cow dung has sold on Trade Me for more than $3000.

HOND FAIL VCR
RADIO NEW ZEALAND NEWS AT 0500 The Maori party president says Hone Harawira's actions should be reviewed by the Race Relations Commissioner. The MP has been criticised for going to Paris ...

New centre for brain research at Auckland University
A new research centre was launched at Auckland University on Friday to investigate brain diseases.

Tsvangirai calls of Mugabe boycott
Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has called off his party's boycott of the unity government with President Robert Mugabe.

Abbas announces he won't stand again
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has announced he will not seek re-election in polls in January, because of a lack of progress in the peace process.

13 die in killing spree on US army base
A US Army major firing two handguns has killed 13 people and wounded 30 in a shooting rampage at Fort Hood base in Texas, before being shot and captured.

Iwi leaders to drive discussion on foreshore alternatives
The Iwi Leaders Forum has called a series of hui to develop a Maori alternative to the Foreshore and Seabed Act.

Kidd says aquaculture proposals will help Maori particularly
A former fisheries ministry says his recipe for kick starting the aquaculture industry will be of huge benefit to Maori.

ERMA hasn't set date to phase out log fumigant
The regulator of dangerous chemicals has declined to set a timetable to phase out the controversial log fumigant methyl bromide.

Wellington council still looking to carbon neutrality
Wellington City Council insists its plans to become a carbon neutral city have not fallen by the wayside, despite a new push to also become the country's first Fair Trade City.

Moa bones found near Taupo
Workers building a new highway on the outskirts of Taupo have found bones that may be from a family of the extinct bird, the moa.

Challenge over Otago toga parade dismissed
The High Court has ruled the University of Otago was within its rights to discipline students involved in a drunken toga parade through Dunedin.

Call for decisive action to align economy with Australia's
The Australia New Zealand Business Council is calling for decisive policy shifts from the Government to bring this country into economic alignment with Australia.

Modest gain for NZX after Wall St rise
The New Zealand sharemarket has risen on the back of strong gains on Wall Street, with the benchmark NZX 50 index closing up 15 points to 31.60, on turnover of $67 million.

US Senate considers nomination for NZ ambassador
The US Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a hearing on Friday to consider the nomination of David Huebner to become the next American ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa.

Nuplex to consider reducing NZ operation
Chemical resins maker Nuplex is considering moving its head office overseas and reducing its operation in New Zealand. It has 250 employees here.

Aspects of Fieldays under review
The largest agri-business event in the Southern Hemisphere, the New Zealand Agricultural Fieldays, is undergoing a review as a result of exhibitor and visitor feedback.

Lion Nathan earnings rise in NZ
New Zealander's liking for premium beers has helped Australasian brewer and wine producer Lion Nathan increase its earnings in the face of the economic downturn.

NZX follows Wall St rise
The New Zealand sharemarket has risen on the back of strong gains on Wall Street, with the benchmark NZX 50 index up 23 points, to 31.68 on turnover of $29 million.

Germans strike over GM move to sell Europe operation
Thousands of Opel workers in Germany have downed tools in protest over a decision General Motors not to sell its European operations.

Alinghi proposes Australia as America's Cup venue
Swiss yachting syndicate Alinghi has proposed Australia as an alternative venue for its defence of the America's Cup in a bid to end a court battle with US challenger BMW Oracle.

Investor confidence at two-year high, survey shows
The latest survey shows a turnaround in investor confidence, which is now at its highest level in two years.

Thai witness in disgraced MP's case can stay in NZ
The Thai tiler who was a key witness in the case against disgraced former MP Taito Phillip Field has had his request to stay in New Zealand granted.

Man admits strangling animal worker
A Christchuch man has admitted murdering a Cats Protection League worker who went to pick up a stray from his home.

Tax credit boosts Telecom quarterly profit to $163m
Telecom has seen a rise in its quarterly profit, as a tax credit offset a fall in revenue. It made a profit of $163 million in the three months to September.

Wanganui toddler's death treated as homicide
Police are now treating the death of a two-year-old boy in Wanganui as a homicide.

Bollard advocates taking advantage of Aussie growth
New Zealand should try to ride to prosperity on the back of Australian economic growth, according to Reserve Bank Governor Alan Bollard.

School service for most needy under scrutiny
The Education Review Office is questioning whether a $73 million service for New Zealand's most needy children is value for money.

Hide: there's work to do to repair relationship
ACT leader Rodney Hide says he has work to do to repair his party's relationship with the National Party after he was caught out criticising the Prime Minister.

New Dunedin stadium taking shape
Dunedin's new roofed stadium is beginning to take shape, five months after demolition work began on the harbourside site.

Documents show TVNZ asked English to approve ad
Television New Zealand asked the Finance Minister's office to "sign off" on its "Plain English" promotional advertisement before it went to air.

Property trust seeks $150m to refinance debt
Goodman Property Trust is looking to raise up to $150 million to refinance its debt.

Hellaby Holdings looking for capital to fund growth
Investment concern Hellaby Holdings says it will need to raise capital this financial year to fund growth.

Canterbury water strategy to be joint-funded
A new strategy for managing Canterbury's fresh water will be jointly funded by ratepayers and the private sector.

Queens Wharf project still alive, says council boss
The chair of the Auckland Regional Council says a decision to have "a cup of tea" and reconsider a development plan for Queens Wharf does not mean the project is being scrapped altogether.

New group aimed at solving water quality issue
The Hawke's Bay Regional Council says there is a strong commitment to solving water quality issues in the upper Mohaka and Taharua rivers south-east of Taupo.

Teenager's disappearance 'out of character'
Police in Christchurch say the disappearance of 14-year-old Ashley Sehnert is out of character.

Large haul of fireworks stolen
Police in Waikato say a large haul of fireworks stolen from the Warehouse store in Morrinsville on Tuesday evening could fall into the wrong hands.

Key defends Government's first-year performance
Prime Minister John Key says his National Government has achieved what it set out to do in its first year, given the economic conditions it inherited.

MPs' pay freeze shouldn't apply to public service - PSA
A decision not to grant MPs a pay increase should not apply across the wider public service, a union believes.

Economists believe early rise to interest rates unlikely
Economists believe it is unlikely the Reserve Bank will raise interest rates early next year, after the unemployment rate hit a nine-year high.

Soaring number of firms defaulting on loans
In a sign the recession is not over just yet, figures released by New Zealand's largest credit rating agency show a sharp rise in the number of businesses defaulting on loans and lines of credit.

Rural groups believe broadband plans unfair, inadequate
Rural organisations are continuing to press the Government on what they see as its inadequate plans for improving broadband internet coverage in rural areas.

UN war crimes court appoints lawyer for Karadzic
The United Nation's Yugoslav war crimes court has appointed a lawyer to represent former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic whenever he fails to appear in court.

More jobs? Not for a while yet, say employers
It'll be at least the second half of next year, says the Employers and Manufacturers Association, before employment in its sector begins climbing again. The overall jobless rate just hit a nine-year high.

New Zealanders able to bring super savings home soon
Legislation will be introduced to Parliament in two weeks' time to allow New Zealanders returning home from Australia to bring their retirement savings with them. Arrangements could be in place by the second half of 2010.

CYF welcomes guilty verdicts on baby's death
Child, Youth and Family says it is pleased those responsible for the death of an 11-week old baby who was starved and beaten have been held accountable for their actions.

Bollard warns money markets on Kiwi
The Reserve Bank Governor has issued a warning to money markets driving up the value of the New Zealand dollar.

Diabetes expert Donald Beaven dies in house fire
Renowned New Zealand diabetes specialist Sir Donald Beaven has died in a house fire, a coroner has confirmed.

'Horrendous' abuse of Fijian historian before deportation
Fiji-born historian Brij Lal is describing his detention by soldiers on Wednesday night before his deportation from Fiji as "horrendous".

Residents make views plain about parking policy
Wellingtonians have told their city council some home truths about how its carparking policy isn't working.

UN pulling 600 international staff out of Afghanistan
The United Nations is evacuating 600 of its international staff from Afghanistan because of security concerns.

Contact Energy drilling three new gas wells
Contact Energy has started drilling three new wells at its $250m Ahuroa underground gas storage field near Stratford, aiming to speed up the collection of gas for its yet-to-be-completed peaking power plant.

'Not surprised' by scathing financial advice review
A former president of the professional body for financial advisers says he's not surprised by a scathing assessment of the industry.

Meat and Wool NZ cuts please farmers' lobby
A farmer lobby group that's been campaigning for the reform of Meat and Wool New Zealand has welcomed the wide-ranging cut-backs announced for the organisation's research, marketing and farm extension programmes.

Prison does deter crime, ACT says
The ACT party has released figures that it says prove prison works as an effective deterrent to crime.

Only floating crane returns refurbished
New Zealand's only floating crane has returned to Wellington, after undergoing a five-month refurbishment in Lyttelton.

Scathing assessment of financial advice industry
A New Zealand consumer watchdog has issued a scathing assessment of the financial advice industry after saying it has found evidence of widespread incompetence.

Six out of seven support DHB merger
The first of a series of public meetings about the proposed merger of the Otago and Southland district health boards has been held in Dunedin. Just seven people came.

Lower EU subsidies pushing up dairy prices
Fonterra says the reduction in subsidies paid to farmers in the European Union has helped to stimulate a price recovery in the global dairy market.

Conflicting views over roll bars on quad bikes
A quad bike manufacturers' representative says his industry is the best placed to decide whether roll bars should be fitted on to the vehicles to prevent serious injury or death.

NZ, Australian indexes both fall
The New Zealand sharemarket declined on Thursday, with the benchmark NZX 50 index dropping 22 points, or 0.7%, to 3144.

Westpac faulted for 'confusing' NZ figures
A banking expert says the latest figures published by Westpac relating to its New Zealand operation are complicated and confusing, and don't necessarily tell the whole story.

Expelled envoy to Fiji due back in NZ
New Zealand's acting Head of Mission in Fiji will leave that country on Thursday, after being expelled by the interim regime.

Man sought by police turns himself in
The police hunt for a gunman in Lower Hutt and Wellington on Thursday was called off when a 21-year-old man turned himself in at Lower Hutt police station shortly after 6pm.

Legislation to lift ban on marine farming areas
Bans on marine farming areas will be lifted under proposed reforms announced on Thursday.

America's Cup holder to appeal venue ruling
A legal wrangle is continuing over where sailing's America's Cup regatta should be held in February, with the Swiss defenders of the trophy appealing the latest court ruling.

Recession may not be over, retailer warns
One of New Zealand's top retailers predicts the economy could lapse back into recession, as new figures show a bigger than expected fall in company tax revenue.

Prison officer facing drug smuggling charge
A prison officer at Spring Hill Prison in Waikato is facing a drug smuggling charge.

Court dismisses appeal over Nia Glassie killing
The Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal by one of two men convicted of murdering Rotorua toddler Nia Glassie in 2007.

NZ's oldest immigrant dies at 104
The oldest man to emigrate to New Zealand, Eric King-Turner, aged 104, has died.

Inquiry begins after 70-year-old found dead in home
Police have launched a homicide investigation after the body of an elderly woman was discovered in her Kaitaia home.

Mercury richer in iron, NASA probe reveals
Mercury is even more of an "iron planet" than scientists had previously thought.

NZ war hero Keith Park honoured in London
A statue has been raised to New Zealand-born Sir Keith Park for his role in the Battle of Britain during World War II.

Invercargill deputy mayor vows to fight for job
Invercargill City Council's deputy mayor is vowing to fight to keep his job after the mayor told councillors he has lost confidence in him.

Auckland bus drivers reject pay offer
Unions representing Auckland bus drivers who rejected their employer's latest pay offer say there is no immediate threat of further industrial action.

More miners down tools in contract dispute
About 950 coal miners throughout New Zealand are now on strike after workers at Spring Creek mine near Greymouth walked off the job on Wednesday night.

Government posts $2b operating deficit
The Government's ailing finances have fallen further into the red with an operating deficit of $2 billion for the first three months of the financial year - almost double what was forecast.

CIA agents jailed over Muslim cleric kidnap
An Italian judge has convicted 23 Americans - all but one of them CIA agents - and two Italian secret agents of the 2003 kidnap of a Muslim cleric.

NZ expels Fiji's acting High Commissioner
The New Zealand Government has moved to expel Fiji's acting High Commissioner to New Zealand.

Policy and opposition supporters clash in Iran
Police in Iran have clashed with hundreds of supporters of the opposition leader Mirhossein Mousavi.

Brownlee denies hydro dam gaffe
Energy Minister Gerry Brownlee is denying Labour Party claims he made a gaffe in remarks about a controversial hydro dam scheme on the West Coast.

More bodies found at rapist's home in US
Police in the American state of Ohio have now recovered 10 bodies at the home of a convicted rapist.

Qantas pilots forgot to lower landing gear
An air safety investigation's been launched in Australia after a Qantas jet made its approach to land at the country's busiest airport without its landing gear down.

Grumpiness sharpens thinking - NSW research
An Australian research team has found that being grumpy can make people think more clearly.

Research indicates link between folates and asthma
Australian researchers say they may have found a link between folate supplements taken during late pregnancy and asthma in young children.

Republicans take two US governor's races
The opposition Republicans have won victories in two key elections in the United States, in a sharp blow to the Democrats a year after Barack Obama won the presidency.

Five British soldiers shot in Afghanistan
Five British soldiers have been shot dead in Helmand Province, in an attack the British military says was carried out by a rogue Afghan policeman.

Polytech staff strike during Prince's visit
Striking academic staff from Wellington's Whitireia Polytechnic have staged a demonstration during Prince Edward's visit to the city.

Search ends for missing after Indian Ocean sinking
Australian authorities have called off a search for nine people missing from a boat that sank more than 600km northwest of Cocos IsIands three days ago.

Council wants speed camera law change
Wellington Regional Council has begun pushing for a law change to allow it to operate speed cameras and red light cameras.

Elderly man killed in Banks Peninsula fire
Canterbury police have yet to release the identity of an elderly man who died in a house fire on Banks Peninsula.

Greens warn any foreshore changes may hurt small groups
The Green Party is warning that any new foreshore and seabed settlement must not override the interests of smaller iwi, hapu and whanau groups.

Huntly school tops primary kapa haka finals
Organisers of the national primary school kapa haka finals say there were consistently high performances from all competitors.

500 Maori sign on to lose weight in South Auckland
The organiser of a weight loss competition for Maori in South Auckland expects competitors to shed between 2000 and 4000kg of fat before the end of the month.

Electrical fault caused fatal barn fire
Police say a fatal fire in a barn in Karaka south of Auckland was caused by an electrical fault.

Quake shakes Marlborough
A 4.5 magnitude earthquake has shaken the Marlborough region.

Impact of leaking Timor well could last for years
The company responsible for a massive oil leak in the Timor Sea says it could take up to seven years to deal with the environmental impact.The company responsible for a massive oil leak in the Timor Sea says it could take up to seven years to deal with the environmental impact.

Hospital admin staff may strike in South Island
More than 800 administrative staff at South Island hospitals are to take industrial action this month.

Women get last opportunity to overturn HNZ evictions
Three Lower Hutt women fighting eviction from their state homes have been given a final opportunity to overturn earlier court rulings that the evictions are lawful.

Bainimarama defiant over diplomats' expulsions
Fiji's interim prime minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama remains defiant in his decision to expel senior New Zealand and Australian diplomats from his country.

Ship breaks moorings in gales
Gale force winds that battered Canterbury caused a ship to break its moorings in Lyttelton Harbour.

Commodity prices increase
Commodity prices rose 4.6% in October, mainly due to an increase in dairy and log prices, the ANZ Bank's Commodity Price Index shows.

GM to retain Opel
American car manufacturer General Motors is reversing its decision to sell its European division, Opel.

European Union reform treaty overcomes final hurdle
Czech president Vaclav Klaus has signed the Lisbon Treaty reforming the European Union, removing the last obstacle to it coming into force.

French anthropologist Levi-Strauss dies
French intellectual Claude Levi-Strauss, the founder of structural anthropology, has died at the age of 100.

Timor Sea oil rig leak stopped - owner
An oil leak on a rig in the Timor Sea has been stopped, though the well is yet to be permanently secured, the rig's operator PTTEP Australasia says.

Blood test row in Auckland resthomes resolved
The Aged Care Association says it has reached an agreement with Auckland district health boards that no resthome resident is to be expected to leave the facility to get blood tests.

Cyclist death inquiry team boosted
The police team investigating the death of a cyclist after a hit-and-run north of Auckland has been increased to 20.

Auckland house sales, prices rise
Auckland's largest real estate company says improved confidence has lifted the property market as prices and volumes climb. Barfoot and Thompson sold 73% more properties last month than in October last year.

Principal resigns as financial inquiry continues
The principal of Fraser High School in Hamilton, Martin Elliot, has resigned as an investigation into alleged financial irregularities continues.

Labtests hits back at review demand
Auckland firm Labtests has hit back at a group of doctors and nurses that is calling for an urgent and independent review of community laboratory testing services.

Coal miners strike over contract dispute
The union for striking coal miners says it is looking for ways to restart negotiations with state-owned coal company Solid Energy.

Council to give Aisling report to coroner
The coroner looking into the death of toddler Aisling Symes has asked that Waitakere City Council provide him with its report into the incident.

NZ sharemarket edges down in early trading
The New Zealand sharemarket edged down in Wednesday morning trading. The benchmark NZX 50 index slid 5 points, or 0.1% to 31 54.

Report finds semi-skilled migrants worth targeting
A report on the impact of immigration on New Zealand has found that targeting semi-skilled migrants, as well as the highly skilled, is of greater economic benefit.

Rotorua farmers challenge effluent compliance figures
Federated Farmers is continuing to challenge the Bay of Plenty Regional Council over dairy effluent compliance figures and is seeking a 'please explain' meeting. It says only four farms that were inspected failed to comply.

Murder accused too ill to appear in court
A man accused of murdering his brother near Wanganui was excused from appearing in court on Wednesday due to ill health.

Fatigue, lack of seat belt contributed to crash death
The police in South Waikato say fatigue and failure to wear a seat belt contributed to the death of a Hastings man in a collision.

Food prices fall
Food prices fell 0.7% in September, driven largely by a fall in fruit and vegetable prices which dropped 8.45.

Airline safety levy anomaly removed
The government has moved to correct an anomaly in civil aviation law over the passenger safety levy. The change means JetStar will pay the charge from December.

Picton yachtie missing, search underway
Police fear for the safety of a man who was living aboard a yacht in Picton Harbour, who has not been seen for a week. The national dive squad has been called in to help in the search.

Super Fund move questioned
Some oil industry insiders are questioning the value of the New Zealand Superannuation Fund and infrastructure investor Infratil potentially getting into petrol retailing.

Engineering supplier creates Auckland mega-centre
Industrial and engineering supplier Blackwoods Paykels has spent $5 million on creating a new mega-centre in Auckland to meet increasing demand from the agricultural and petrochemical industries.

British banks to sell hundreds of branches
British banks Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds Banking Group are to sell off hundreds of branches.

Karadzic wants delay in war crimes trial
Former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic has appeared at the Yugoslav war crimes tribunal in The Hague for the first time since the start of his trial, saying he needed another 10 months to prepare his defence.

Sustainable seafood guide nonsense, says industry
A ranking system encouraging consumers to buy more ecologically sustainable fish is nonsense, according to the Seafood Industry Council.

Slink skin processor forced to cut production
A lamb and calf skin processor says a combination of the world recession and the high New Zealand dollar have savaged demand and prices and forced it to cut back production.

Recession aiding police force to recruit Maori
Hard times in the job market are helping the police Maori recruitment strategy.

Renewed call for junk food ban in schools
An apparent Government U-turn that has allowed the Fruit in Schools programme to continue has prompted calls to bring back the rules that would force schools to sell healthy food. However, the Government says that won't happen.

Fiji orders NZ, Australian envoys to leave
Fiji has ordered envoys from New Zealand and Australia out of the country, accusing them of mis-informing their governments while waging a negative campaign against the country.

Australian horse Shocking takes Melbourne Cup
Australian horse Shocking roared past Ireland's Crime Scene in the closing stages to win the Melbourne Cup at Flemington Racecourse on Tuesday. Another Irish horse, Mourilyan, was third.

Compensation not sought in foreshore law - iwi
The leaders of two prominent iwi say compensation will not be sought under any replacement to the Foreshore and Seabed Act.

NZer who bought Tongan ferry did not 'know' ships
A Royal Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the Tongan ferry, Princess Ashika, has been told the New Zealander who bought the vessel knew nothing about ships.

Westpac to appeal tax ruling
Westpac plans to appeal against a High Court decision that ruled it owed almost $1 billion in taxes.

Shrek inspires book on Bendigo Station
A 16-year-old merino, Shrek, is the inspiration for a new book on Bendigo Station in Central Otago.

Samoa head of state questions expensive funerals
Samoa's head of state says the recent tsunami has forced his people to rethink both fa'alavelave, or cultural giving, and expensive funerals.

Fifth of mammals threatened with extinction - Red List
One in five of all known mammals and one in three amphibians are at risk of extinction, according to the latest update of the so-called "Red List" of endangered species.

Aspirin shouldn't be used if no heart disease - UK doctors
A British medical review journal has advised doctors to avoid automatically prescribing low doses of aspirin to patients who do not have heart disease.

Congratulations for Karzai on victory
World leaders are congratulating Hamid Karzai on his victory as Afghanistan's president, while asking for less corruption and better security.

Another toddler run over in driveway
For the second time this week, a child has been run over by a vehicle in a driveway incident.

Avoid snapper, scallops - Best Fish Guide
A guide to sustainable seafood recommends consumers avoid popular catches such as snapper and scallops.

North Korea says it has more nuclear arms material
North Korea says it has completed reprocessing spent fuel rods at its Yongbyon nuclear plant and weaponised plutonium from the material, giving it more material to produce atomic arms.

Environmental priorities should be changed - NZIER
New Zealand's environmental priorities have been questioned by an economic think-tank, which says there's too much emphasis on fighting climate change through emissions reduction.

Beneficiaries won't be forced into work - Bennett
Social Development Minister Paula Bennett denies the Government will force anyone back to work as part of its intention to reduce the number of invalid's beneficiaries.

Environment Court hears Wairau hydro appeal
Opponents of the Wairau River hydro power scheme in Marlborough have launched a final bid to halt the $275 million dollar project. Trustpower says they have raised no new issues of substance.

Body found at scene of Karaka barn fire
Police are investigating the discovery of a man's body at the scene of a barn fire in Karaka south of Auckland on Tuesday night.

Swine flu vaccination extended to at-risk groups
Pregnant women, obese people and young children in poor areas will be included among those who are able to get free vaccinations against swine flu.

2010 international Festival of Arts launched
The 2010 New Zealand Festival of the Arts has been officially launched at a gala function in Wellington.

Coldest October in 64 years
Last month was the coldest October in more than half a century. NIWA says some areas had record low temperatures.

Air NZ to buy 14 new Airbus planes
Air New Zealand is planning to buy 14 new Airbus A320s to replace its domestic fleet of Boeing 737s.

Bomb squad disposes of grenade in Mosgiel
The Army Bomb squad has safely disposed of a grenade sucked out of a drain by contractors in the Dunedin suburb of Mosgiel.

Australia lifts official interest rate
The Reserve Bank of Australia has lifted the official interest rate by 25 basis points, marking the fourth time in a row it has altered rates on Melbourne Cup day.

NZ market down
The Benchmark NZX 50 index fell 24 points to 31.58 at the close of trading on Tuesday.

Auckland medical group seeks urgent review of Labtests
A group of Auckland doctors and nurses wants an urgent, independent review of community laboratory services.

Infratil, Super Fund in talks to buy Shell assets
Wellington-based infrastructure investor Infratil and the New Zealand Superannuation Fund are in exclusive talks to buy some of Shell's assets.

Annual wage growth falls to 2.1%
The growth in wages and salaries is at its lowest in nearly seven years, according to figures from Statistics New Zealand. Wages and salaries increased 2.1% in the year to the end of September.

Community service for driver who killed his family
A jetlagged man who crashed his car into a power pole in Christchurch, killing his wife, their three-year-old granddaughter and his cousin, has pleaded guilty to causing their deaths.

Man accused of deliberate fatal crash not 'suicidal' that morning
A mental health nurse who assessed a man accused of deliberately causing a fatal car crash says he was not deemed to be suicidal the morning of the accident.

Body in Auckland creek identified
Police have identified a body that was found in a West Auckland creek as that of a local man. They say there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.

3000 still without water in Samoa after tsunami
The United Nations Children's Fund says almost 3000 people in Samoa, many of them children, still rely on roadside deliveries of water more than a month after the tsunami.

NZ politician maintains concern about Samoan aid
Porirua deputy mayor Litea Ah Hoi says she stands by her criticism of the delivery of tsunami aid in Samoa, despite a statement by the Samoan government that it has systems in place to monitor aid.

Armed robbery at Huntly bank
Waikato police are investigating the aggravated robbery of security guards delivering money to a bank in Huntly.

Pakistan forces ' take militant stronghold'
Pakistani forces say they have seized control of a key Taliban stronghold in the region of South Waziristan.

Guilty plea over Hastings police officer assault
A teenager has pleaded guilty in the Hastings District Court to the serious assault of an off duty police officer, who was punched and kicked in the head when he tried to break up a fight outside a party.

Crime nationwide concerns NZers more than locally
A survey measuring perceptions of crime shows New Zealanders are less concerned with crime in their neighbourhood than they are with crime throughout the country.

Turning around lives motivates me, not wealth - Tamaki
Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki says a passion to turn around Maori lives drives him rather than desire for personal wealth.

Land Court upgrade wins architectural award
Mixing marae styles with modern architecture won Gisborne firm Nicoll Blackburne two prizes at the Gisborne-Hawke's Bay regional architecture awards.

Farmers give Fonterra good report card
Fonterra's farmer watchdog body, the Shareholders' Council, has given the co-operative a favourable report card for its performance during the past year.

Honey company aims to double exports
A Dunedin honey marketer is aiming to double the amount of honey it sells overseas over the next two years. New Zealand Honey Co has grown 900% since its inception in 2006.

Teen shearer becomes trans-Tasman champion
One of New Zealand's up-and-coming young shearers is now a champion on both sides of the Tasman.

Greenhouse gas emission action important - Grasslands Assn
The president of the pastoral industry body, the Grasslands Association, is concerned that prioritising the reduction of air pollution over greenhouse gas emissions could threaten the country's reputation for sustainable production.

Dairy, meat industries welcome Gulf state trade deal
The dairy and meat sectors have greeted New Zealand's latest free trade agreement enthusiastically despite the lack of detail about the terms of the deal.

Construction worker injured at building site
A man has been taken to hospital with serious injuries after being hit by a piece of digger equipment at a construction site in the Auckland suburb of Orakei.

Ombudsmen's office investigates school allegations
The Office of the Ombudsmen is investigating a complaint made by parents of pupils at Hutt Valley High, who say the school didn't properly handle students' allegations of sexual assaults.

NZ sharemarket slides in early trading
The NZX 50 index fell 7 points, or 0.2%, to 3176 during early Tuesday trading, on turnover of $34 million

Germany should have permanent UN seat - ambassador
The German ambassador to New Zealand says his country should have a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.

Child who died following crash named
A three-year-old child who died from his injuries following a crash near Huntly at Labour Weekend has been named.

Toddler dies in driveway accident
A two year old child has died after being run over in a driveway on a rural property in Waikato on Monday afternoon.

Morrison and Co to set up retail fund
Infrastructure manager Morrison & Co is considering setting up a retail feeder fund to enable a wider pool of investors to participate in its planned social infrastructure fund.

Leaving youth gangs difficult, research suggests
Research on behalf of the Families Commission has found many youth gang members want to leave gangs but find it difficult to do so.

NZ soldiers 'lucky' to escape Afghan ambush unhurt
The Defence Force says 12 New Zealand soldiers caught in a well-prepared ambush in Afghanistan are lucky to have escaped unharmed.

Afghan run-off vote scrapped, Karzai declared president
The planned second round of voting in Afghanistan's presidential election has been cancelled and Hamid Karzai declared president.

Tuesday's newspaper headlines
Half of New Zealand's 12-year-olds are projected to fail new maths standard; Ombudsmen's Office investigates how schools and agencies respond to bullying, proposed home for alcoholic vagrants in Wellington in doubt.

NZ dollar on roller coaster
The New Zealand dollar fluctuated wildly on Monday, falling the best part of a cent against the US dollar during the morning before regaining.

Labtests does not have enough staff - report
The company running community medical testing in Auckland needs more staff and is working to a tight budget while addressing problems with the service, expert reports say.

'More detail needed' on super-council companies
Manukau City mayor Len Brown says a newly-released report on how the Auckland super-city will be structured has too many gaps. He wants more information on council-owned companies that will control transport and water.

GE corn not likely to be in NZ
The organisation overseeing food standards says it is extremely unlikely a genetically engineered corn not approved in Europe is present in Australia or New Zealand.

Xero launches personal banking product
Online business accounting software company Xero is moving into the consumer market, launching a new personal banking product.

US lender files for bankruptcy protection
The troubled US lender, CIT Group, has filed for bankruptcy protection, after a debt-exchange offer to bondholders failed.

Infratil to retain other airports after Luebeck sale
Infratil has no plans to sell its other European airports after ridding itself of its Luebeck operation, despite passenger numbers dropping markedly in the economic downturn.

Treasury forecasts 2% growth rate
The Treasury is forecasting the the economy to grow at an annual rate of around 2% over the second half of this year as the pace of economic recovery picks up.

Single ticket on the way for public transport
The Transport Agency has announced it will establish a national ticketing programme for public transport in New Zealand. It will allow passengers to travel across a city using different modes of public transport with a single ticket.

TB strain in pig new to North Island
Routine surveying in the Tararua district has picked up a strain of bovine tuberculosis in a pig which had not been found before in the North Island. The Animal Health Board is urging hunters not to move wild pigs between regions.

Challenge to AgResearch genetic research proposal
GE-Free New Zealand has challenged a decision by the Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA) to grant approval for a new application by AgResearch to create genetically modified organisms.

Warning over closer economic ties agreement
New Zealand's national interests could be damaged by an agreement reached with Australia over closer economic ties, law firm Chapman Tripp warns.

Govt to inject $20m into tourism
The Government has announced the country's tourism sector will receive a $20 million boost.

Search for survivors after sinking near Cocos Islands
At least one person is confirmed dead and another 11 remain missing, feared drowned, after a boat sank in the Indian Ocean on Sunday night.

Varroa continuing challenge
Bee-keepers are in for a challenging time as they wait for new ways of controlling the varroa honey bee parasite.

Pakistan bomb kills 35 people
Some 35 people have been killed in a suspected suicide bombing in the Pakistani city of Rawalpindi.

Government signals changes to social welfare system
The New Zealand Government has signalled it intends to proceed with changes to the social welfare system as the economy moves out of recession.

NZX grain exchange purchase unconditional
NZX says its purchase of the Australian Clear Grain Exchange has gone unconditional.

Infratil gets out of German airport
Infratil has sold its 90% stake in Luebeck Airport back to the German city, because of poor patronage.

Ngai Tahu's earnings fall
Ngai Tahu will be on reduced rations this year, with the financial crisis and the property slowdown hitting the South Island tribe's earnings.

Maori Affairs Minister has more pilots in mind
The Minister of Maori Affairs is planning more pilot schemes to shift resources from mainstream to Maori health providers.

Space junk re-enters atmosphere near NZ
The remains of a Japanese spacecraft have made splashdown after re-entering the Earth's atmosphere near New Zealand.

PM signals repeal of Foreshore and Seabed Act
Prime Minister John Key has signalled the Foreshore and Seabed Act will be repealed, but is holding off on a final decision until replacement legislation is settled on.

NZ strikes trade deal with Gulf states
New Zealand has struck a trade deal with six oil-rich Persian Gulf states after six rounds of negotiations.

Massey University to scrap midwifery degree
Massey University is to scrap its midwifery degree, saying new teaching requirements make it impossible to teach the course in three years.

Lake deaths prompt rethink on lifejacket laws
The deaths of five recreational fishermen in the past month have spurred Maritime New Zealand into rethinking lifejacket laws.

Prince Edward begins tour at Antarctic Centre
The Earl of Wessex, Prince Edward, has flown into New Zealand for a four-day tour, and will present awards as part of the Duke of Edinburgh Hillary Awards scheme.

Property for Industry loses $11m
Property for Industry has posted a loss of just over $11 million for the nine months to the end of September, as lower property values continue to plague its balance sheet.

Frontline staff told jobs will be safe in super city
Hundreds of Auckland council staff who work in customer service and community facilities have been told their jobs will be safe in the change to a super city.

Christchurch men sentenced over global spam
Two Christchurch men have been sentenced for their part in a global spam operation.

Govt's rural plan headed for failure: Telecom
Telecom says the Government's plan to scrap the levy it gets for supplying phone lines to commercially unviable rural customers is flawed.

PM supports MPs continuing to take partners overseas
Prime Minister John Key says he supports the decision of some of his ministers to take their partners overseas with them.

Amalgamating National Archives under review
A review of the National Archives by the State Services Commissioner will consider amalgamating it with another department.

Drink drive blood ruling opens way for thousands of claims
More than 21,000 convicted drink drivers are now entitled to ask the Ministry of Justice for a refund in the wake of a Supreme Court decision.

NZX follows Wall St down
The New Zealand sharemarket has fallen on the back of hefty losses on Wall St, with the benchmark NZX 50 index down 31 points.

Transport Agency defends publicity over road rules
The New Zealand Transport Agency is defending the level of publicity it has given to sweeping changes to road rules that came into force on 1 November.

Vice Premier of China visiting NZ
Vice Premier Li Keqiang of China is in New Zealand for a three-day visit.

Committal date set over Matamata death
A committal date has been set in Hamilton District Court for a Matamata horse breeder accused of killing his wife.

Kurariki before court on damage charge
One of New Zealand's youngest convicted killers is again before the courts.

Man charged with murder over Benneydale death
A 20 year old man from Benneydale has been charged with the murder of a woman in the King Country settlement.

Man in court after body discovered in South Auckland
Police have identified a man found dead in South Auckland early on Sunday. A man has appeared in court charged with assault in connection with the incident.

Pike witness says he never saw pair argue
A witness has told the High Court at Wellington he never saw any arguments between a young Palmerston North drug dealer and the man accused of killing him.

NZX follows Wall St down
The New Zealand sharemarket has fallen on the back of hefty losses on Wall St, with the benchmark NZX 50 index down 47 points to 31.69 at lunchtime.

Moderate quake strikes off northern Tonga
A moderate earthquake with a magnitude of 5.9 has struck off northern Tonga, according to seismologists.

Top Fiji judge wants travel ban lifted
Fiji's top judge is calling for New Zealand and Australia to abandon their travel bans on the country's judiciary.

Disgraced singer Judd defends stalking girls
New Zealand-born pop singer Phil Judd believes he did nothing wrong when he stalked three primary school girls in Australia.

Samoa struggling with superbugs in wake of tsunami
Medical teams in Samoa are struggling to cope with superbugs a month after a tsunami devastated parts of the Pacific, killing at least 184 people.

Toddler death inquiry to focus on family
A police investigation into the death of a Wanganui toddler is to focus on the boy's family.

Abdullah withdrawal throws run-off vote into doubt
Efforts are under way to resolve confusion over whether the final round of Afghanistan's presidential election will go ahead following the withdrawal of opposition leader Abdullah Abdullah.

Residents anxious over Basin Reserve plan
Residents in the Wellington suburb of Mt Victoria are accusing the Transport Agency of a dull silence on plans for a large roading project in their neighbourhood.

Suspected mafia brothers arrested
Italian police say they have arrested another two suspected mafia bosses, a day after seizing their brother in a raid near the southern city of Naples.

Otago, Southland DHBs considering merger
The Otago and Southland District Health Boards are considering a merger that would save them hundreds of thousands of dollars a year.

Polish refugees commemorate their NZ arrival
More than 800 people packed Wellington's Cathedral of the Sacred Heart on Sunday to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the arrival of a group of Polish refugees in New Zealand.

Tyre prices tipped to stay flat
The price of some tyres in New Zealand is tipped to stay flat or drop, due to a piece of protectionism by United States President Barack Obama.

South Canterbury Finance directors appointed
South Canterbury Finance says its three new directors will help put together a proposed capital raising that has been delayed until early next year as it first repays American investors.

NZX boss wants more media analysis, not less
The head of the stock market Mark Weldon says he would be concerned if there was a wider trend to limit the media's ability to cover annual meetings.

Proposed changes to Sky City constitution unlikely
Large institutional investors at Sky City Entertainment Group have torpedoed changes in the casino operator's constitution which would have made it easier for directors to participate in any capital raising.

Firms given takeover clearance guidelines
The Commerce Commission has released guidelines on how companies can apply to takeover failing firms.

Pipfruit growers to pay increased levy
A pipfruit commodity levy which came into force on 1 November means growers will pay 25% more than last year.

Hawke's Bay fruit growers assess hail damage
Hawke's Bay fruit growers are assessing the damage to pip and stonefruit crops from a series of hailstorms that swept through the region late last week.

Data expected to show labour market still struggling
Data out this week is expected to show that the labour market is still struggling, despite signs the New Zealand economy may be on the mend.

New rules aim to simplify civil dispute resolution
New rules aimed at resolving civil disputes more quickly and at a lower cost are being introduced on Monday.

Mother fined after allowing 13-year-old to drive
Wellington police say they are alarmed at the case of a mother who allowed her 13-year-old daughter to take the wheel and drive along a stretch of State Highway 1 on Sunday.

Pharmac funds new anti-depressant
Drug-buying agency Pharmac has begun funding a new type of anti-depressant, Mirtazapine, for people with severe depression who have not responded to treatment.

Six bodies discovered at US rapist's house
Six bodies have been found at the home of a convicted rapist in Cleveland, Ohio.

Body of missing fisherman found on Lake Onslow
The body of a fisherman who went missing on a lake in the Otago high-country has been recovered.

Russian cargo jet crash kills 11
A Russian cargo plane has crashed in the far-eastern Yakutia region, killing all 11 crew members on board.

UN urges lifting of HIV travel ban
United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon has hailed US President Barack Obama's removal of a decades old travel ban on HIV-positive visitors, and is urging other countries to do the same.

Woman found dead in Benneydale
A homicide inquiry has been launched after a woman was found dead at a house in the Waikato settlement of Benneydale.

Three teens still in hospital after fatal Napier crash
Three of the five teenagers who survived a fatal head on collision in Hawke's Bay have now been discharged from hospital.

Uncertain where Tamil asylum seekers began journey
There are questions over where 78 asylum seekers on an Australian customs vessel anchored off the Indonesian island of Bintan began their journey.

Fatal crash near Christchurch closes road
Police are investigating a fatal crash involving two cars near Christchurch.

Pedestrian hit by truck dies
A pedestrian has been killed after being hit by a truck in Rotorua.

Float plane ditches over Lake Taupo
A float plane with four people on board has been forced to ditch over Lake Taupo after blowing its engine.

Small airports work to improve security
The New Zealand Government is pressing ahead with plans to improve security at small airports.

Big jump in swine flu deaths
The number of swine flu deaths reported worldwide has jumped by at least 700 in just one week as the northern hemisphere winter approaches. More than 5700 people are reported to have died from the virus.

No sign of survivors as mid-air crash wreckage found
Rescuers scouring the Pacific Ocean off the California coast have found the wreckage of a transport plane and helicopter that collided, but no sign of the nine people feared dead in the crash.

Police out in force to stop nude pumpkin run
Dozens of police officers have been deployed in the American city of Boulder, Colorado to stop an unusual Halloween tradition.

Confidence Samoa's tourism industry will bounce back
There is confidence Samoa's million dollar tourism industry will be able to bounce back from the destruction caused by the recent tsunami in the Pacific.

Labour leader to visit tsunami-hit Pacific
Labour Party leader Phil Goff leaves for Samoa and Tonga on Monday to assess the recovery and rehabilitation needs following the Pacific tsunami.

Woollen sheets low on itch factor, say scientists
Light-weight woollen sheets are being produced in New Zealand as the result of 25 years of scientific research.

US drive to restart Mid-East peace talks
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has urged the Israelis and Palestinians to restart talks "as soon as possible".

Council not impressed with Queens Wharf designs
A competition to redesign Auckland's Queens Wharf for the 2011 Rugby World Cup has so far attracted underwhelming and lacklustre entries, according to the head of the regional council.

Leaders reunite to remember fall of Berlin Wall
Three politicians who played key roles in the fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1989 and the transformation of Europe two decades ago have met at a ceremony in Berlin to mark the occasion.

Resource consent review too late, says mayor
Far North mayor Wayne Brown believes a Government review of his council's consent process is too late to be of any use.

Tauranga plan to toughen rules on tall buildings
Planned rule changes on high rise development in Mt Maunganui will make it harder for large new buildings to be constructed, the Tauranga City Council says.

Camp hosts sought for Auckland parks
The Auckland Regional Council is to offer a summer holiday with a difference for Aucklanders keen to act as hosts at popular campgrounds.

Track cleared to reach stranded Hawera residents
Roadworkers have cleared a track through a massive slip near Hawera in Taranaki, giving emergency access to stranded residents.

All Blacks beat Wallabies in Tokyo
The All Blacks beat the Wallabies 32-19 in the Bledisloe Cup match in Tokyo on Saturday night.

Vineyards warned to reduce noise from frost fans
The Marlborough District Council has issued noise abatement notices to two properties, amid complaints about the sound made by fans used to ward off frost.

Another typhoon lashes Philippines
Typhoon Mirinae has smashed through the Philippines, killing 11 people and worsening floods in areas that were struggling to recover from recent deadly storms, according to officials.

Weather hampers return of rare floating crane
Bad weather has delayed the return of a rare floating crane to Wellington Harbour.

Police arrest final suspect in Murupara teen's death
Police say they have arrested the sixth and last person sought in connection with the death of a teenager in the Bay of Plenty settlement of Murupara nearly a month ago.

Late start to summer predicted
Summer is not expected to begin until January. NIWA says temperatures will be average until then in the North Island, Nelson and Marlborough. Temperatures in the rest of the South Island will be below average.

Australian oil spill risks marine life - report
The Australian government has released a report into an oil leak off the country's north-west coast which reveals that birds and marine species are at risk.

Christmas Island detention centre predicted to double
The Australian government is reportedly planning to double the size of the Christmas Island detention centre. There has been an influx of asylum seekers with 19 boats intercepted in Australian waters since the start of last month.

Chirac ordered to stand trial
Former French President Jacques Chirac has been ordered to stand trial on corruption charges covering the time he was mayor of Paris from 1977 to 1995.

Man in court after Armed Offenders Squad call-out
A man appeared in the Whangarei District Court on Saturday on charges including injuring with intent, assault with a weapon and breach of a Protection Order.

Myer to list on Australian market on Monday
Australia's largest department store chain, Myer, is to float on the Australian sharemarket on Monday, with an expected market value of $A2.4 billion. It will be the country's biggest IPO in two years.

Cold hits North Island farms
Cold weather has been affecting farm production in parts of the North Island. However, a "dream spring" continued this week in Canterbury.

Govt 'unlikely' to go whole hog on ACC bike levies
ACC minister Nick Smith has reiterated that the Government is unlikely to increase levies for motorbikes to the scale proposed. Hundreds of bikers around the country protested against the proposed levy hikes on Saturday.

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 ...

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.

For U.S., a Triumphant Return to Cuba
Clint Dempsy scored in the 40th minute to lift the United States national team to a 1-0 win over Cuba. It was the national team’s first visit to Cuba since 1947.

Good Showing by Britain Is Ahead of Schedule
Even as British athletes move up the medal count in Beijing they are looking forward to 2012.

An American Again Misfires With Gold in Sights
For the second straight Olympics, Matt Emmons had forfeited a gold medal with a shocking mistake on the final shot of the three-position rifle.

For English Studies, Koreans Say Goodbye to Dad
Many South Korean children are attending school abroad, accompanied by their mothers but not their fathers.

Ministry of Justice staff plan rolling strikes
Ministry of Justice staff are escalating their industrial action from Monday in support of a pay rise.More than 180 staff who collect fines and look after administration work at courts and tribunals walked off the job for two...

Air NZ ads mock MPs' misfortunes
Air New Zealand is making the most of the misfortunes of Maori Party MP Hone Harawira and Act leader Rodney Hide.The airline is running advertising using them to promote cheap fares.It features a picture of Mr Hide wearing...

Rodney and Louise's other holiday perk
"Perk-buster" Rodney Hide whisked his girlfriend away on another tax-payer funded trip - a mid-winter tropical break in Hawaii.The Weekend Herald can reveal that the Act leader - under intense scrutiny after taking Louise Crome...

Taxpayers face $777m bill to help fix leaky homes
The Crown expects to pay $777 million to leaky home victims in the next two decades, lumbering the country with colossal bills.A secret Government discussion paper this month being circulated to metro city mayors shows the state...

MPs' travel perks earning free flights
MPs taking advantage of the taxpayer-funded travel perk to take partners abroad could earn free flights on trips that cost them next to nothing in the first place.The Parliamentary Service - the organisation responsible for administering...

Harawira's head on the chopping block
The Race Relations Commissioner says Hone Harawira may not have broken the Human Rights Act in his racially charged email.The Te Tai Tokerau MP is fronting up to Maori Party officials today to discuss the language he used defending...

Justice still a daydream eight years on
Leaky home owners are the forgotten people, the people whose lives and futures have been stripped away from them, described as the "walking dead" by a man who has had more to do with them at ground level than most.We have been...

John Armstrong : Hypocritical Hide owes Act an apology
First Bill English, then Chris Carter and now Rodney Hide. Parliament's unique strain of swine flu has claimed another victim. Another senior politician has been caught with his trotters planted firmly in the trough - the difference...

Fran O'Sullivan: Hide's failings like those that brought Peters down
Act leader Rodney Hide's centre of gravity shifted too far away from his brain once he turned his attention from perk-busting to pork-busting.The politician who made his name by excoriating MPs' perks, and attacking the wastage...

Paul Thomas: Has our democracy become too big a burden to these tycoons?
Is there someone in your life for whom you have trouble choosing a Christmas present?For instance, someone who professes not to need or want anything, but would be mightily offended if you took them at their word? Or someone who...

Editorial: Time Key fixed leak problem
The previous Government never quite "got it" on leaky homes and nor, it seems, has this one. A deal that Building and Housing Minister Maurice Williamson is discussing with metropolitan mayors would see the Crown contributing just...

Cartoon: The week that was, part 1

Cartoon: The week that was, part 2

Maori Party set to discipline Harawira ? despite apology
The Maori Party says it is "on the verge" of disciplining MP Hone Harawira over his behaviour despite him apologising for any harm he has done to the party.The party held a teleconference this afternoon after Mr Harawira lashed...

Pray for Fiji, Samoan PM says
Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi has some simple advice on how to deal with the head of Fiji's self-declared military government, Commodore Voreqe (Frank) Bainimarama."We should pray a lot, a prayer with patience,"...

Reaction: Hide's constituents speak out
Nzherald.co.nz hit the suburban streets of Rodney Hide's Epsom electorate today to gauge reaction to recent controversies surrounding the Minister.Hide has been criticised for taking his partner on a tax-payer funded $50,000 trip...

Hide's trip included LA theme park and wedding
Act leader Rodney Hide took his girlfriend, Louise Crome, to an amusement park in Los Angeles during their taxpayer-funded trip that was also timed to coincide with her brother's wedding near London.The Herald has learned Mr Hide...

US diplomat outlines plans for NZ role
WASHINGTON - The nominee to be the United States ambassador to New Zealand says he hopes for closer ties despite a more than two-decade row over nuclear weapons.New Zealand declared itself nuclear-free in 1986 and refused entry...

Tiler in Phillip Field case to stay in NZ
The Thai overstayer at the centre of the prosecution of former Mangere MP Taito Phillip Field has been allowed to remain in New Zealand.Tiler Sunan Siriwan and his partner Aumporn Phanngarm have each been issued with two-year...

Harawira's angry email over Paris trip
Maori MP Hone Harawira has reacted to an email criticising him for bunking off a work trip to visit Paris, by lashing out at white people.In an email exchange released to Radio New Zealand, Mr Harawira accused "white motherf.******"...

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