A broadcasting veteran and a former Taranaki farm girl will be the new faces of the Country Channel when the rural issues based news and information channel launches on Sky Channel 99 on October 1.

16 September 2008 - HE'S been leaping into the hearts of audiences for five decades.

16 SEPTEMBER 2008 - Revealing Christchurch's post-war history is the focus of the Christchurch City Libraries' Heritage Week 2008 photo competition.

15 September 2008 - Auckland's fashionable district of Newmarket says this week's Air New Zealand Fashion Week is like a bright ray on light on the horizon for many retailers and designers.

15 September 2008 - A free event at Auckland Museum on Thursday, 18 September marks the anniversary of Auckland's founding day - and the start of this year's Auckland Heritage Festival.

12 September 2008 - A visiting international expert says New Zealand is "punching above its weight" in using plain English.

12 SEPTEMBER 2008 - Sir Jon Trimmer is thrilled to be playing the lead role in the Royal New Zealand Ballet's vibrant, new production of Don Quixote.

12 SEPTEMBER 2008 - Mum's the word It's not quite time to count down, but we have passed the 'two months out' mark, and tickets sales have taken off.

12 September 2008 - The organising committee of the Waipara Valley Wine and Food Celebration is delighted to announce that the 2009 event will move to the fourth (4th) Sunday of February, this coming year, the 22nd of February at the historic Glenmark Church.

Stocks in Winston Peters' sacking fell sharply in record trading on iPredict following Helen Clark's decision not to sack Mr Peters this morning.