1The prison officer's union is demanding to know why more hasn't been done to protect staff after an inmate Jeremy Mataira was convicted for - a second time - assaulting a female guard.

2The police in Christchurch have begun a homicide inquiry into the death of a woman whose body was found in the Avon River.

3Unions are threatening work stoppages and are calling for an inquiry into claims that the police paid for them to be spied on. Rob Gilchrist, who has previously been acused of passing on information about people in activist organistations, is now being acused of passing information on about trade unions.

4The new Government has promised South Auckland 300 extra police officers by the end of 2010.

5Business News

6There are fears jobs could go in the tourism industry following a drop in visitors from Asia. Sta NZ says short term overseas arrivals were down 4% compared to the same time last year.

7The number of New Zealanders going to Australia to live has hit a new high but there's a prediction that the number has peaked.

8While most of us will be eating, drinking and having fun on Christmas Day others are required to work.

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10An independent health advisory committee has recommended parents be allowed to donate surplus IVF embryos for medical research. Fert expersts say the move would give parents more options, though critics are outraged.

11The judge presiding over the case of the stolen war medals has told off lawyer Chris Comeskey who brokered their return.

12More than twelve years after his arrest, Colonel Theoneste Bagosora, accused of masterminding the genocide in Rwanda has been sentenced to life in prison by a United Nations court.

13Waatea News

14Barack Obama, United States President elect says closing the detention centre at Guantanamo Bay is one of his top priorities. With over 250 people still detained there, what happens to them at closure is bound to be controversial.

15The only woman in this country to receive the sentence of preventive detention has been told she will have to spend more time in prison. Kino Hoki Matete was sentenced in Wellington after pleading guilty to the charge of grievous bodily harm.

16The Christchurch City Council has moved to clamp down on boy racers by imposing a night time no-stopping ban on three streets, though this is only seen as a short term measure and not a solution for the increasing problem,

17Researchers at Queensland University of Technology have been calculating the exact caloric cost of Christmas cheer. They've calculated that one delicious fruit-filled pie contains 360 calories.

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19The police have identified the woman found in the Avon River in Christchurch this morning and say she did not die of natural causes.

20The Government today assured the Mayor of Manukau it will address problems facing south Auckland.

21A young Bay of Plenty woman has been arrested and charged with the murder of a 78 year old John Rowe in Opotiki last month.

22The former Air Force base at Shelly Bay in Wellington Harbour is to be purchased as part of a Waitangi Treaty Settlement deal. The Port Nicholson Block Settlement Trust has confirmed it's going to buy the land.

23Business News

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25Focus on Politics, including: the transition from Opposition to Government and what the future holds for John Key and New Zealand.

26Waatea News