Prime Minister John Key has welcomed Rahul Gandhi to New Zealand today, saying the longstanding and friendly ties between the two countries have taken another step forward with his visit.

Auckland, Feb 15 NZPA - The MetService omitted the word "thunderstorms" from a weather forecast on the day six students and a teacher died in a canyoning tragedy in the Mangatepopo Gorge in 2008, a coroner's inquest was told today.

Fifty years ago this was the threat that galvanised West Coasters into action to establish their very own national park. In 1958, the Director-General of Lands proposed that Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park be extended to include the scenic reserves containing Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers.

By Alastair Bull of NZPA

Auckland, Jan 7 NZPA - The man who headed the recreation centre where seven people died in the 2008 Mangatepopo canyoning tragedy is resigning for family reasons, the centre's chairman says.

Auckland, Jan 7 NZPA - The man who headed the recreation centre where six college students and a teacher lost their lives in a 2008 canyoning tragedy is resigning to become head of a recreation training organisation.

All Blacks Coach Graham Henry and his Assistant Coaches Steve Hansen and Wayne Smith have today named the team to play England at Twickenham, London, on Saturday 21 November, in the fourth Test of the All Blacks Telecom Northern Tour.

The imaginations of Wellington's children have been sparkling with creativity in recent weeks. Imaginary ice creams 'as magical as Christmas' have been taking shape on paper in classrooms around the region.

News is updated at a frantic pace and watched on increasingly large TVs and diminishing portable screens - you can even watch One News on your mobile phone.

Three illustrious alumni from the University's College of Creative Arts and its forerunner institutions have been named as the latest inductees into the college's Hall of Fame.

WEDNESDAY, 7 OCTOBER 2009 4.30PM