Emirates Team New Zealand has won the first race of the Louis Vuitton Trophy Auckland final, beating Mascalzone Latino by 12 sec.

Wellington, March 20 NZPA - Central Districts made an abject start but their final stand had nearly levelled the ledger after the first day of their Plunket Shield cricket match against Auckland today.

Wellington, March 20, NZPA - Results from the Louis Vuitton Trophy Series yachting regatta off Auckland today:

Final (best-of-five):

Race 1: Team New Zealand (NZ) bt Mascalzone Latino (Italy) by 12sec

Semifinals:

Team Team NZ bt Azzurra (Italy) 2-1

Today

Auckland, March 20 NZPA - Police have opened several roads in Tokoroa, which were cordoned off after a gas main was ruptured by workmen.

The leak was noticed about 11.40am and police cordoned off several roads and ordered about 200 people out of their homes.

Auckland, March 19 NZPA - Team New Zealand today made it through to the final of the Louis Vuitton Trophy yachting regatta, winning the deciding race of their semifinal against Italians Azzurra by 27sec.

Auckland, March 20 NZPA - The victim of a fatal air crash made a high-flying departure when his casket was strapped into a helicopter for a final sortie.

Auckland, March 20 NZPA - A dangerous sex criminal attacked two women while he was on parole and under Corrections Department supervision.

Auckland, March 20 NZPA - A man investors say owes them millions of dollars is pumping petrol in Otaki, north of Wellington, and says he is a knight.

However, investors want to know why he has gone unpunished after he was charged with fraud in America.

Wellington, March 20 NZPA - As Stephen Versalko starts his six-year jail term for defrauding ASB bank of nearly $18 million, his wife has vowed to stand by him.

Wellington, March 19 NZPA - A second half blitz from the Blues was just enough to see them home 39-34 against the Brumbies in a free-running, hard-tackling Super 14 rugby match at Eden Park in Auckland tonight.