Trade Me founder Sam Morgan and Warehouse Founder Stephen Tindall are part of a group behind a $900 million broadband plan

A group of internet and retail entrepreneurs have joined together to announce plans for a $900 million fibre optic cable linking New Zealand, Australia and the United States.

The 13,000 kilometre link would be in place by 2013.

The group which includes Trade Me founder Sam Morgan and Warehouse Founder Stephen Tindall, aims to provide unlimited high speed broadband for Australasian customers. They want New Zealand to keep up with the rest of the world and to stop the increasing digital divide.

The idea is just at the feasibility stage, but the group is appealing to the business sector and the Government to help fund what it sees as a vital step forward for New Zealand.

Winston Peters suspects election promise will be broken by any Government changes to the SuperGold card scheme

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters is deeply suspicious of the Government's plans for the SuperGold Card scheme he masterminded.

Travel entitlements for senior citizens are being reviewed and Transport Minister Steven Joyce says changes will be made because the initiative is on track to exceed its $18 million budget.

Mr Peters suspects the Government is about to break its election promise to protect the SuperGold card and he accuses it of taking an apathetic approach to the scheme.

"The reality is if such a review ends up in cuts or slashing of the benefits then it will belie Mr Key's assurances undertakings to elderly people at the last election."

Mr Joyce claims $2 million out of the $18 million budget is being chewed up by transport subsidies on Auckland's Waiheke Ferries.

Mr Peters says the figure is false and the Government is trying to mislead people. He says Mr Joyce is taking the total figure and calling it the original cost, which is creative accounting at its worst.

Labour's finance spokesman David Cunliffe says any cuts would be most unfortunate.

"I think the gold card has been extremely well received and it's made a real difference in the lives of many older New Zealanders who wouldn't otherwise be able to travel. And I think it'll be greatly regretted if it's cut back."

Mayor of Rodney Penny Webster says the district will fight its inclusion in the super city, Waikato is also unhappy with boundaries

The Mayor of Rodney is vowing to fight confirmation the northern boundary of Auckland's super city will include her district.

The Local Government Commission has today confirmed the boundaries of the new Auckland. Despite opposition from many locals, Rodney is in.

Mayor Penny Webster says her council is meeting this afternoon to map out its next step.

"A lot of people in Rodney feel that they haven't been listened to. I mean there's still a lot of angst that we shouldn't be part of the city."

Ms Webster says her council will consider its own plan of action as soon as this afternoon.

"We have been asked by the Northern Action Group to support a local bill putting the northern part of Rodney into Kaipara."

Ms Webster says the council is also looking at putting in a local bill itself, to keep Rodney out of Auckland.

The southern boundary of the new city will see a significant chunk of Franklin become part of the Waikato District. However, the Karioitahi Beach and Paparimu areas will stay with Auckland.

Waikato Mayor Peter Harris says when his district inherits a significant chunk of Franklin, it also inherits massive debt. He says rates could double, if Auckland does not pick up the tab.

"We have issues of roading. We have 50 percent of their roads for 25 percent of the people so there some imbalances there that we're trying to address. It's important that we win this battle."

Waikato District Council raised the issue at a select committee hearing last week. Mr Harris says while it got a fair hearing, it was obvious no one had considered anything south of the border.

Representation for the new council has also been decided. The 20 members will be elected from 13 wards, with 21 local boards sitting below the council.

A woman who has admitted disposing of the body of her baby tried to warm it in bed for four days, unsure if it was alive or dead

The sad details behind the discovery of a mummified baby's body, discovered in a shed behind a Christchurch boarding house, have been revealed.

The baby's 27-year-old mother has just admitted a charge of disposing of the body of a baby with the intent of concealing its birth.

Court documents show the woman gave birth to the baby boy alone in a park sometime last July or August. She does not remember whether it was born alive or dead, but recalls tying off the umbilical cord with a shoelace.

The woman took the baby home where she remained in bed for four days trying to warm it. Eventually she disposed of the baby in a sports bag, which a friend stored for her at the Waltham boarding house.

The mother has been remanded to Hillmorton Hospital ahead of sentencing on June 2.

The Local Government Commission has released final super city boundaries, Rodney District will be included

The northern boundary of Auckland's super city will include the Rodney District.

The Local Government Commission has just released its final decisions for boundaries and representation for the council.

The people of Auckland will be represented by 13 wards. Seven will have two members on the council, the other six will have just one. In addition, 21 local boards will share in decision making.

The northern boundary will include Rodney, but to the south a significant part of Franklin will become part of the Waikato District.

The Karioitahi Beach and Paparimu areas will stay with Auckland.

It comes as Rodney residents upset at their district being merged into the Auckland super city are taking their fight to Parliament. More than 1,000 locals have signed a petition organised by the Wellsford Community Group demanding a law be drafted that excludes North Rodney from the super city boundaries. Their petition has been presented to Parliament.

It coincides with the Rodney District Council's own attempt to draft a local bill to keep it out of the planned local government merger.