Hon Heather Roy address to 17 (City of Christchurch) Squadron Air Training Corps; Squadron Headquarters, Oxford Road, Wigram, Christchurch; Thursday, December 10 2009.

Power company Meridian says it is studying the decision from the Ministerial Review into the Electricity Market to transfer ownership of two of its South Island hydro stations to its sister SOE Genesis.

The Maori Commercial Aquaculture Claims Settlement Amendment Bill passed its second reading in Parliament over night Fisheries Minister Phil Heatley announced today.

* Rainfall: Extremely dry in the northeast of the North Island, and eastern South Island. Record low rainfall in Northland, parts of Auckland, Coromandel, Bay of Plenty, Taupo, Canterbury, Otago and inland Southland.

Auckland's newest, and coolest, day-care centre has opened at Kelly Tarlton's. This crche isn't a time-out spot for younger visitors - it has been created especially for this seasons Gentoo penguin chicks and is designed to replicate the way they are raised in the wild.

Acting Christchurch Mayor Norm Withers launched the South Island Chapter of the India New Zealand Business Council last week with a call to seek improved bilateral opportunities.

The Department of Conservation (DOC) will save taxpayers thousands of dollars thanks to new energy efficiency upgrades planned for campgrounds around the country.

Shearing has seen one of its more popular wins with Wanganui gun Jerome McCrea beating World champion Paul Avery on the champion's home stage in Stratford.

Wellington, Nov 27 NZPA - Severe gales are blasting the South Island.

The Automobile Association is warning drivers to take caution on roads across the central South Island and Otago because of the high winds.

The Government cannot ignore the thousands of protestors who are marching across New Zealand to demand an end to the wage freeze on low paid public and community sector workers, said CTU President Helen Kelly today.