Wellington, NZPA - Two families at a welfare centre in the Christchurch suburb of Linwood are battling gastroenteritis.

All non-urgent elective surgery has been cancelled for tomorrow. This includes all pre-arranged admissions for Christchurch, Christchurch Women's and Burwood Hospitals. Scheduled Caesarean sections and inductions will continue. Affected patients are being contacted.

Vodafone Warriors prop Sam Rapira could be back on the field in six weeks after being cleared today of a potential season-ending knee ligament injury early in the second half of yesterday's gritty 26-24 11th-round NRL victory over South Sydney at Mount Smart Stadium.

Wellington, Sept 21 NZPA - The makers of pain killers have rejected claims their drugs may be linked to a three-fold increase in the "flesh-eating bug" in New Zealand hospitals since 1990.

By Kent Atkinson of NZPA

Wellington, Sept 17 NZPA - The number patients in New Zealand hospitals attacked by "flesh-eating" bugs has trebled since 1990.