1Thousands of motorists trying to leave Auckland and Wellington for Easter holidays are facing lengthy delays.

2Helen Clark has ended the Washington leg of her US visit optomistic that a trade deal between the US and New Zealand is possible.

3The Government is banning the keeping of ferrets as pets stating that they pose too great a threat to wild life.

4Business News.

5Figures released today showing that the economy grew less than expected at the end of last year may convience the Reserve Bank not to raise interest rates further.

6Presdient George Bush is condaming the latest suicide bomber ibn Israel as a callus cold blooded killing and has called on Yaser Arafat to stop the violence.

7News and Sport

8Labour Department inspectors will be out over Easter to enforce shopping laws after the failure of the latest move to lift restrictions on holiday shop trading.

9Papa New Guinea's parliament has voted unanimously to give the war torn island of Boganville autonomy.

10A former prisoner of the Japanese Armed Forces in World War II is claiming a moral victory from court proceedings in Japan despite loosing his appeal.

11As East Timor readys itself for its first Presidential Elections and independence, the U.N. has asked New Zealand to continue providing military support.

12The police have called in reinforcements including Auckland's eagelhawke helicopter to cope with the tens of thousands of visitors into Wanaka this weekend.