Wellington, Feb 6 NZPA - A Hamilton woman has appeared in court charged with internet banking fraud totalling more than $450,000.

Airiana Paul, 20-year-old labourer, entered no plea in Hamilton District Court this week to 11 charges of dishonestly obtaining a pecuniary advantage.

Wellington, Feb 6 NZPA - The mother of the man accused of murdering Hawke's Bay farmer Mark McCutcheon has been jailed for a week after barking like a dog and yelling abuse in the courtroom.

Wellington, Feb 6 NZPA - A Bay of Plenty businessman has been accused of raping a woman after allegedly stupefying her with the party drug ketamine.

Wellington, Feb 6 NZPA - The security guard on duty at a Taupo college the night Karen Aim's beaten body was found was known to murderer Jahche Broughton and has been convicted of helping the teen cover up evidence of an earlier bashing.

Hastings, Feb 5 NZPA - A woman swearing abuse at the judge and police was removed struggling from the public gallery of Hastings District Court today after the appearance of a man charged with murdering Hawke's Bay farmer Mark McCutcheon.

Wellington, Feb 5 NZPA - Ivoni Fuimaono, the mother of Halatau Naitoko, the young courier driver fatally shot by police on an Auckland motorway, has given birth to a baby boy today.

The NZ Transport Agency reports that traffic is heavy on both the Northern and Southern Motorways going out of Auckland.

Christchurch, Feb 5 NZPA - A bank robber escaped a jail sentence today after he said that a man had threatened to harm his family if he did not pay him $10,000.

Wellington, Feb 5 NZPA - Police have charged a Kawerau man over the murder of 16-year-old Jordan Herewini.

Wellington, Feb 5 NZPA - The murder of Rotorua toddler Nia Glassie has left a stain on the town's reputation and the sentences for her killers are manifestly inadequate, Rotorua Mayor Kevin Winters says.