The short time frame of nine weeks (including the Christmas-New Year holiday break) for submissions to the third Auckland governance bill makes a mockery of democracy, according to the Human Rights Commission.

Wellington, Feb 25 NZPA - The captain of the Tongan ferry Princess Ashika has been arrested and charged with five counts of knowingly sailing an unseaworthy vessel.

The 37-year-old Ashika sank last year with the loss of 74 lives, while Maka Tuputupu was in charge.

This Saturday will mark the 30th anniversary of Air New Zealand Flight TE901's crash into Mount Erebus on Antarctica.

+13

The Candor Trust is pleased that the Independent Police Complaints Authority has identified the key problems with NZ Police chase culture, which Candor initially identified as contributing to the jeopardisation of Public Safety.

National lobby group, EUFA (Exposing Unacceptable Financial Activities) are holding a meeting for investors in the Hawkes Bay this Friday as a result of the serious mal practice Hawkes Bay Mum and Dad investors have been inflicted with.

22 April 2009 - In March this year, American Bernard Madoff pleaded guilty to serious fraud charges after operating a sophisticated Ponzi type scam. Mr Madoff mixed in very high circles and was influential in governing circles, sneaking under their radar.

17 SEPTEMBER 2008 - A new report finds that both National and Labour administrations over the past two decades have been steadily unravelling our social welfare "safety net" and moving its basis from the meeting of basic need to the narrow focus of pushing people into work.