New Zealand Herald - National

Rare bird shot in case of mistaken identity
In an ironic twist, the very organisation charged with protecting a native species has ended up being responsible for doing damage to it. Reports today are saying how a Department of Conservation employee shot dead a takahe after...

Cousteaus get close-up view of whale rescue
The son and grandson of the late ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau are getting a close-up view today of attempts to rescue a stranded whale at a beach west of Auckland. Ocean Futures Society president Jean-Michel Cousteau and son...

March to demand tougher sentences
An Auckland anti-crime vigilante group is hoping for a big turnout at a march in Auckland today, demanding a tougher stance against crime. The Asian Anti-Crime Group is lobbying Parliament for stronger laws and tougher sentences,...

Weekend of storms and squalls has started
Snow, hail, gales, heavy showers and a bitterly cold wind chill are this morning sweeping over New Zealand as the second major winter storm in a week moves through. Overnight heavy snow closed the Desert Road and a number of South...

Injured toddler in coma
A 3-year-old fighting for his life remains in Auckland's Starship hospital in a drug-induced coma. The Avondale toddler was allegedly injured while in the care of his family. It is too early to say if charges will be laid.

Bargains galore to be had
Shoppers with cash to spare stand to gain from a growing retail downturn, as stores discount in droves to lure customers back. Consumers have closed their wallets this year because increased living costs are squeezing household...

Exclusive : Police face new probe into Wallace shooting
On April 30, 2000, Steven Wallace walked down the main street of Waitara in Taranaki, smashing shop windows with a golf club and a baseball bat. He was shot dead by Senior Constable Keith Abbott who was acquitted of murder but...

Privacy fears stop rugby sex scandal complaint
The woman who claims four England rugby players sexually violated her says she will not make a formal complaint to the police as doing so would threaten her privacy. The 18-year-old is also refusing to deal directly with England's...

Truckies get stuck in their own big jam
Diesel hung in the air over Auckland's main street yesterday, but many truckies protesting against rises to road user charges never made it to the Golden Mile. They were stuck in a jam of their own making which stretched about...

Prices fuelling big changes
There are those that drive on "E for enough" around the East Cape with motorists facing some of the most expensive pump prices in the country. The costliest fuel is probably on islands like Great Barrier and the Chathams where...

Charge of heavy brigade
Waikato truckie Adrian Norris is a little disappointed at the restrained approach truckies took during yesterday's nationwide protest. "We should have done what they did in France - park on the highways and cripple the country....

Legendary music business up for sale
Legendary music store Real Groovy and its entire collection of associated businesses are up for sale. Managing director Chris Hart told the Weekend Herald yesterday a bad foreign exchange deal had left the 28-year-old business...

Turnout causes few hassles
Across the country, truck numbers exceeded protest organisers' expectations, with many centres getting at least double the figure anticipated. TAURANGA Tauranga had expected 150 but got closer to 300. The Bay of Plenty Road...

More mass protests not ruled out as working party set up
Truckies are not ruling out more mass protests, although they hope a working party on road user charges will make enough progress to prevent further disruption. A promise on Thursday night by Transport Minister Annette King of...

Mini-convoy gets the thumbs-up from islanders
Great Barrier Island has some of the most expensive fuel in New Zealand so it was no surprise that its truckies were ready to take to the road in frustration at rising road-user costs. For about an hour yesterday morning, about...

Acquitted worker wins extra $20,000 in costs
A woman acquitted on a charge of stealing nearly $400,000 from her employer was awarded $20,000 by the Court of Appeal yesterday. Fay Afato was charged in 2005 with stealing $390,000 from her employer, Travelex. The money had been...