News

The Silver Ferns have wiped Australia off the court in the second netball test in Wellington, to level the Constellation Cup series at 1-1.

The Silver Ferns have massacred Australia 59-40 to level the Constellation Cup series at 1-1 in Wellington.

The Ferns completely outclassed Australia in all facets of the game, with shooter Maria Tutaia top scoring for the Kiwis with 24 goals from 32 attempts.

Australia never looked to threaten the Ferns at any stage and at halftime it was already looking like a win for the girls in black as they led 31-19.

It's a huge turn around from game one where the Ferns made errors at crucial times to fall by five goals in Adelaide.

The win fell just short of the previous record for the Ferns over their arch rivals, a massive 61-36 in 2005.

A last-ditch attempt to come to an agreement between radiographers and the DHB has failed, meaning there will be a strike next Tuesday

Failed talks between the country's district health boards and radiographers mean they will walk off the job next Tuesday as planned - Auckland DHB staff will start their strike tomorrow.

Both parties have agreed on a pay increase - it's just certain terms and conditions they can't get past.

Association of Professional and Executive Employees spokeswoman Deborah Powell says the strikes could easily be avoided.

She says there's less than 2-hundred thousand dollars between the parties out of a total salary 70 million dollar budget.

APEX hopes negotiations can still take place before next week's nationwide strike.

There are calls from former PM Jim Bolger to think bigger than just a republic and look at forming a EU style Pacific gathering

There are calls from a former Prime Minister to think bigger than just a republic and look at merging the Pacific into a European-Union style gathering.

Jim Bolger has spoken at a constitutional debate at parliament.

Mr Bolger says we need to look at embracing a bigger picture than just New Zealand's constitution.

He says if we are to have a peaceful region of the world we have to embrace our island neighbours in a construct like the EU.

Mr Bolger says he's the only Prime Minister who ever spoke to the Queen about New Zealand becoming a republic.

Meanwhile, former Deputy Prime Minister Michael Cullen says if New Zealand's going to become a republic, it must be sooner rather than later.

Speaking at a debate at parliament today, Dr Cullen says there's no point waiting until the Queen dies before turning into a republic.

Dr Cullen says when she dies, Prince Charles will become king and we'd then legally have to resort to deposing him.

He says you don't have to be a monarchist to feel queasy about the idea of deposing a king and it'd be better to think it through in advance.

The Government is considering a major re-jig of the way child support is run after Revenue Minister Peter Dunne has identified that it is outdated

The Government is looking at changing the way child support payments are worked out in a bid to make the scheme fairer.

Revenue Minister Peter Dunne has today released a discussion document proposing to improve the scheme, which he says is outdated.

They include modifying the formula used to calculate the amount of child support payable.

It could take into account factors like the cost of raising children today, the degree of shared care between parents living apart, and the income of both parents.

Also under consideration is changing the penalty regime for those who don't meet their child support commitments and making it compulsory for support payments to be automatically deducted from salaries and wages.

Investment bank, Forsyth Barr has taken out an ad in the Christchurch Press today targeting investors that will benefit from the bailout of SCF

Some businesses have wasted no time in capitalising on the receivership of South Canterbury Finance.

Investors are covered by the Government's deposit guarantee scheme and they'll be getting a cheque soon which will result in a sudden cash injection into the economy.

Forsyth Barr has taken out an advertisement in the Christchurch Press today specifically targeting SCF investors.

It's holding a seminar in a couple of weeks advising them on where now to re-invest.