Christchurch, Aug 27 NZPA - A woman driven by drugs and gambling, who has amassed 111 previous convictions for dishonesty, was sentenced today to 20 months in prison for seven more offences.

Auckland Mayor John Banks says the new Auckland Council represents an excellent opportunity for a fresh start on water and wastewater pricing.

"I have a visionary policy for water that will give Aucklanders choice on how they are billed and flexibility in case their needs change.

While a company rarely asks people to bring their own chairs or their own paper clips, you often do have to provide your own uniform and maybe soon your own laptop?

Boutique telecommunications and media company Kordia has reported an improved financial performance as investments made during the past few years begin to contribute.

Corrections' Operational Intelligence and a drug dog handler have worked together to disrupt prisoners' attempts to introduce drugs via stereos.

The University of Canterbury is offering scholarships worth more than $750,000 to give students an opportunity to spend their summer vacation undertaking supervised research projects.

Westport, NZPA - A second young South Island woman within a week to admit dangerous driving causing death has avoided jail.

Wellington, Aug 14 NZPA - Police are investigating how more than $750,000 from the Whitireia Polytechnic students' association was spent in a year.

Auckland, Aug 9 NZPA - The victim of a home invasion has told of feeling "so helpless, tied up and gasping for air in the dark" after three men broke into her home, tied up her and her elderly mother and ransacked the house.

Three men have been jailed for 7-1/2 years after pleading guilty to breaking into an elderly woman's home, tying her and her daughter up, and ransacking the house for valuables.