23 February 2009 - Using No 8. wire ingenuity to create a small courtyard garden for a townhouse has 31 landscape design students from throughout New Zealand vying for top honours in this year's Ellerslie International Flower Show Tertiary Competition.

Auckland, Feb 23 NZPA - A teenager accused of bashing 85-year-old war veteran Eric Brady outside a South Auckland RSA last week has name suppression until at least Friday.

Wellington, Feb 23 NZPA - An Auckland teenager expected to face a murder charge in Australia will appear in North Shore District Court tomorrow for an extradition hearing.

David Galloway, 19, was one of three men arrested over a fatal home invasion on the Gold Coast in August.

The Budget Motel Chain has expanded to incorporate three tiers of accommodation as well as taking on a new name, being the Arra Accommodation Group.

Wellington, Feb 23 NZPA - A man accused of stealing what is believed to be more than $100,000 from Blenheim's Armourguard depot is the company's former branch manager.

23 February 2009 - A wide range of activities that have taken place throughout New Zealand as part of the United Nations International Year of Languages 2008 will be marked with a gathering on Monday 23 February at Te Taura Whiri i te reo Maori, the Maori Language Commission.

Wellington, Feb 22 NZPA - A Hastings shearer has been jailed for his 25th conviction for driving while disqualified.

21 February 2009 - Following 24 hours of moderate to heavy rainfall North Otago Rivers are flowing very high and some reaching flood levels.

The MetService is predicting that rainfall will ease later this evening, but rivers are still likely to continue to rise for some time yet.

21 February 2009 - "Federated Farmers applauds the news that New Zealand is to commence negotiations with India for a bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA). India represents a massive opportunity for all New Zealand's farmers," says Don Nicolson, Federated Farmers President.

21 February 2009 - Fonterra today announced one of its suppliers, a German based company called Budenheim, had advised Fonterra that an iron supplement it supplies to food companies around the world had tested positive for melamine.