Locals have really got behind their volunteers with a record 43 entries received for the TrustPower Grey District Community Awards and 32 entries for the TrustPower Westland Community Awards.

So much emphasis this week in the media has been about the chance of snow to sea level in the South Island - however this focus has only ever been at the bottom end of the scale when it comes to severe weather from this system.

An investigation is under way after a home invasion at Fox River on the West Coast of the South Island yesterday evening.

Armed intruders entered a house about 9.30pm and detained the couple who live there. The intruders had disguised their appearance.

A University of Auckland Audiology Masters student has been recognised for new research into secondary school teachers’ sensitivity to noise.

New Plymouth Police are appealing to the public for any information or sightings of missing 16-year-old Bell Block teenager, Nikolao Meafua known as Niko.

The New Zealand Law Society has advised the United Nations’ Human Rights Council that mechanisms protecting human rights in New Zealand would benefit from further strengthening.

Police and Corrections staff in Waikato joined forces yesterday (June 19) to arrest a number of people for breaching their release conditions or failing to attend community work sentences imposed by the court.

A dedicated Whanganui UCOL Cookery Lecturer has used the money from a staff award to travel all the way to India to learn about Indian cuisine to bring her knowledge back to New Zealand.

With a 32-year-old Rawene woman still missing after 12 days, Police are urging the public to come forward with any information that may help locate her.

Barbara Ann Moka was last seen on Sunday June 9 and had attended a Tangi at the Te Piiti Marae, Omanaia (near Rawene).

The 13 th. edition of the United States Department of State Trafficking in People (TIP) Report was released today.