New Zealand Herald - National

Three NZ deaths linked to swine flu
Sat, 04 Jul 2009 15:00:43 +1200 - New Zealand appears to have had its first swine flu deaths following confirmation today that three people who have died in the past week had the virus. Chief Coroner Neil MacLean said a 19-year-old man died last Sunday in Hamilton...

MPs' rich friend arrested at airport
Sat, 04 Jul 2009 14:00:20 +1200 - Police have charged a multi-millionaire businessman, who was granted New Zealand citizenship in controversial circumstances, with making false declarations on immigration papers and using fake identities to obtain a passport. Yong...

Weather making road travel treacherous
Sat, 04 Jul 2009 13:53:41 +1200 - The weather across the nation is making roads dangerous for travellers. The New Zealand Transport Agency says in the South Island, snow means chains are essential on the road to Mt Cook, Arthurs Pass, Haast Pass and the Crown Ranges,...

What police found stashed in one house
Sat, 04 Jul 2009 13:00:19 +1200 - Police seized illegal sawn-off shotguns, semi-automatic weapons and hundreds of rounds of ammunition in a raid on a house. Officers said the weapons had a potential for disaster that "does not bear thinking about". A Tauranga...

Formal handover of Treelord deal assets underway
Sat, 04 Jul 2009 12:32:57 +1200 - The Minister for Treaty Negotiations says today's handover of almost half a billion dollars of forestry assets provides a significant resource base for iwi in the central North Island. The Treelord deal involves more than $280...

Grey Power calls for retention of education allowance
Sat, 04 Jul 2009 11:50:23 +1200 - Grey Power is accusing the Government of ageism. The Government is considering scrapping the tertiary education allowance for people aged over the age of 65. But Grey Power spokeswoman Judy Lamont says many older people are...

Lawyers accused of legal aid rort
Sat, 04 Jul 2009 11:00:18 +1200 - Criminal lawyers have been accused of milking the taxpayer-funded legal aid bill, which is tipped to top $144 million next year. Ministry of Justice officials say some defence lawyers are delaying guilty pleas to make more money...

Southern Motorway closed overnight
Sat, 04 Jul 2009 10:53:16 +1200 - Auckland's Southern Motorway will be closed from 11 o'clock tonight until 8am tomorrow as construction continues on the interchange for the Manukau extension. The closure will affect the northbound lanes between the Takanini off-ramp...

Tornado causes extensive damage in Kaitaia
Sat, 04 Jul 2009 10:02:17 +1200 - Up to 15 houses were left with missing roofing iron and tiling, along with broken windows, after what appeared to be a tornado ripped through Kaitaia this afternoon. Fire northern communications centre shift manager Jaron Phillips...

Minister asked to look at plight of jobless migrants
Sat, 04 Jul 2009 09:52:48 +1200 - The Immigration Minister is being urged to look at the plight of migrants who have lost their jobs. The Migrants Action Trust will be raising the issue at a meeting with Jonathan Coleman next week. Trust spokeswoman Agnes Granada...

Pilot scheme addresses civil dispute mediations
Sat, 04 Jul 2009 09:05:38 +1200 - The High Court in Auckland will be introducing a pilot scheme that will see private mediators undertake court-ordered mediation in some civil disputes. Mediation is currently carried out by associate judges but Justice Minister...

Tobacco giant denies price cuts are to encourage smoking
Sat, 04 Jul 2009 08:06:47 +1200 - A tobacco giant rejects suggestions it has dropped the price of cigarettes to encourage smoking. British American Tobacco New Zealand is under fire from the Government for making smoking more affordable. Smokers are now paying...

Two navy ships returning to Devonport
Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:22:10 +1200 - Two navy ships return to the Devonport Naval base in Auckland this morning after four months' overseas deployment. Warship Te Mana and replenishment tanker Endeavour, with 231 naval personnel on board, have been working in China,...

Woman dead after Flatbush crash
Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:18:22 +1200 - Police are waiting for results from a post mortem which may provide information on a crash that killed a woman in south Auckland last night. Counties Manukau Senior Sergeant Spencer Matthews said the 24-year-old died after she...

Herald contest winners
Sat, 04 Jul 2009 06:00:00 +1200 - Mum delighted to win car The first trip Kerryl Buiter will be taking in her new Nissan Qashqai will be to her parents' house in Waiuku. The Mt Eden resident is the winner of the New Zealand Herald Mobil Nissan Qashqai Competition....

$325,000 games study
Sat, 04 Jul 2009 05:00:00 +1200 - A Commonwealth Games Federation team is to assess Auckland's ability to host the 2018 games in a study that will cost $325,000 and be largely paid by taxpayers, the NZ Olympic Committee said yesterday. The assessment was commissioned...

$30m loss nailed to iwi's support for failed advisers
Sat, 04 Jul 2009 04:00:16 +1200 - The biggest funder of the Treaty settlements process faces dropping $30 million into the red this year - the first time in its 20-year history. The Crown Forestry Rental Trust (CFRT) says it will receive $20.7 million from investments....

Rain and snow ... but no tornadoes
Sat, 04 Jul 2009 04:00:14 +1200 - Auckland will start the school holidays with rain and showers today and tomorrow, although it won't be quite as cold as it has been throughout the week. Those heading south can look forward to a wintry dump of snow. In Canterbury...

Measles outbreak in Christchurch
Sat, 04 Jul 2009 04:00:13 +1200 - Health officials are working to contain a measles outbreak in Christchurch. Four teenagers at Christchurch Boys' High School have caught the potentially lethal infection, with a fifth case suspected. The boys are all in isolation...

Owners of new cars to gain from ACC change
Sat, 04 Jul 2009 04:00:12 +1200 - Drivers of older cars may soon be stung for higher car registration costs because their vehicles lack the safety features of newer cars, such as side airbags and electronic stability control. The levy would increase the ACC component...