Wellington, Oct 13 NZPA - A construction company has been fined and ordered to pay $80,000 after an employees died when a trench collapsed on him.

Wellington, Oct 13 NZPA - A Wellington pub's decision to set up smoker-friendly outdoor pokie machines reached the court today, with the Department for Internal Affairs asking for advice on how the move affects the pub's licence.

Wellington, Oct 13 NZPA - More than $4.5 million was spent on investigating allegations of sexual violation by police officers against Louise Nicholas and others.

13 October 2008 - For only the fourth time in NZ Lotteries' history, a 'Must Be Won' draw has been called for Powerball this weekend.

Greymouth, Oct 13 NZPA - Armed police surrounded the Greymouth courthouse this morning as the depositions hearing got under way into the murder of Korean backpacker Jae Hyeon Kim.

Christchurch, Oct 13 NZPA - Two fingerprints found on the outside of Emma Agnew's car were a match for Liam James Reid but the defence at his murder trial has suggested they got there when he was reading a for sale sign in the car window.

13 October 2008 - The Ministry of Economic Development has reported a strong response to the government's call for applications to the Broadband Investment Fund (BIF). Applications closed at the end of September.

13 October 2008 - Forest & Bird urges the Ministry of Fisheries to do more to protect endangered New Zealand sea lions, which have been relisted as a declining population on the World Conservation Union (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.

13 October 2008 - Tisha Lowry has now been missing for over two weeks.

The Commerce Commission has cleared Shell New Zealand Limited to acquire Mobil Oil New Zealand Limited's Aerostop network assets.