News, sport and weather.
A new type of party pill is concerning some ahead of New Years Eve, the biggest party night of the year. Now a National Politician is hoping to reclassify party pills as Class A Drugs. Jacqui Dean (National, Otago); Matt Bowden (Social Tonics Association of New Zealand); Juliet McVeigh (Reporting from Christchurch).
The Holiday Road Toll has reached 15.
Australian Media Mogul Kerry Packer's funeral will be held well outside of the public eye.
Air Travel to and from Kiribati and Nauru is now nearly impossible, raising fears about the future of the two island nations. Lucy Orsborn (Air Nauru Passenger); Gilbert Ullrich (Ullrich Aluminium); Peter Clark (Aviation Writer); Barbara Dreaver (Pacific Correspondent, Auckland).
A white powder scare led to the evacuation of a building in Christchurch today. Acting Senior Sergeant Steve King (Christchurch Police).
A noisy new tactic of Israeli jets breaking the sound barrier over the Gaza Strip is being criticised by both Palestinian and Israeli human rights advocates Wilf Dinnick (ABC News, Gaza); Ra'Anan Gissen (Israeli Government Spokesman).
A look back at the year, including the politicians who fell from grace; The Reserve Bank Governor's warnings over New Zealanders spending; the election result leading to Winston Peters becoming Foreign Minister in a Labour led Government; Bob Clarkson being taken to court by Winston Peters but retaining his Tauranga Seat; John Tamihere losing his seat and place in Government; Donna Awatere Huata being jailed for fraud; the drivers of a Prime Ministerial motorcade being taken to court; a damning report into the 111 emergency call police system; Former Christian Heritage Party leader Graham Capill being jailed for child molestation; and a farmer acquitted of shooting and injuring a man who was robbing his farm. The new NCEA and scholarship exams proved a debacle and heads rolled at NZQA; and there was a hoax foot and mouth scare on Waiheke Island. John Stewart (One News Reporter).