1A solo mother who had her benefit details released to the public by the disgraceful Minister of Social Development Paula Bennett, says she feels hounded and intimidated for speaking out against government policy. Jennifer Johnston gets $554 a week, has 3 children and is studying toward a nursing degree. She was part of a Trade Me discussion group who wrote to the Minister criticising a decision to deny solo mothers studying at a university of polytechnic a training incentive allowance - the very same benefit Miss Bennett received when she was in the same situation.

2A driver has admitted killing an elderly man in a road-rage attack in Auckland in April. Jasmatbhai Patel died in hospital after receiving critical head injuries from a man after a minor crash in Mount Albert. Bio O'Brien entered a guilty plea this morning.

3Business News

4The Union which represents workers at the Prime sawmill in Gisborne says today's announcement that it's to close, came as a huge shock to the 65 staff. Winstone Pulp International which owns the plant cites New Zealand's high dollar as the main reason for the plant's closure.

5It's been a bumpy ride for motorists in the past month, after two petrol price cuts motorists have now been hit with a rise at the pumps.

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7The government is relaxing the rules for business people wanting to live in New Zealand, in the hope of attracting more investment capital. English language requirements are being remove and the amount of money they need to bring in lowered.

8The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry's outlook on improving prices for dairy products, meat, and wood is being tempered by seemingly unrealistic assumptions the value of the dollar.

9Two police officers have talked about being shot at, before a couple was arrested in an Armed Offenders' Squad callout in the East Otago town of Palmerston in February.

10Waatea News

11The hamper company, Chrisco, is admitting it made a mistake over statements relating to where money from its customers is banked.

12Hundreds of aftershocks continue to rattle Fiordland almost two weeks after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Southland. It is the largest earthquake New Zealand has in nearly 70 years.

13New Zealand's top athletes are getting a $20-thousand funding boost to help them improve their sporting performances.

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15The Minister of Social Development has come under fire for releasing the personal and financial details of two beneficiaries who have gone public over cutbacks to training allowances. Paula Bennett says she released the names and incomes of the two women in the name of 'balance' and 'fairness'.

16Jennifer Johnston, one of the solo mothers who had the details of her benefit payments released by the Minister of Social Development says she feels hounded after speaking out against government policy. The Labour party plans on taking a complaint to the Privacy Commissioner.

17The Ministry of Agriculture's forecast for improving returns for primary producers is being tempered by seemingly unrealistic assumptions.

18The Minister of Social Development has come under fire for releasing the personal and financial details of two beneficiaries who have gone public over cutbacks to training allowances. Paula Bennett says she released the names and incomes of the two women in the name of 'balance' and 'fairness'. The Labour party plans on taking a complaint to the Privacy Commissioner.

19Business News

20The government is relaxing the rules for business people wanting to live in New Zealand, in the hope of attracting more investment capital. English language requirements are being remove and the amount of money they need to bring in lowered.

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22In Australia, Chinese business people living in Brisbane say they're living in fear after being targeted by men using stand over tactics. Over 20 businesses have been called and sent text messages threatening them with serious harm or death if they don't hand over a substantial amount of money.

23In Washington, President Barack Obama has been setting out why the United States and China need to co-ordinate their economic policies. He says the recession has shown how closely their decisions effect each other and that the two nations have a mutual interest.

24South African cities have been brought to a standstill by transport and local government workers striking for better pay. Things turned ugly when garbage collectors started dumping rubbish on the streets.

25More British troops have died in fighting in the Afghan conflict than in the Iraq war. News comes as one of the largest defensives in Afghanistan ends.

26Waatea News

27The Minister for Local Government Rodney Hide came under fire today from mayors and councillors worried about the proposed reforms for the sector and Auckland's governance.

28All schools in Samoa have been shut down for a week and several health clinics have temporarily closed so staff can help ease the work load at the Influenza A H1N1 'swine flu' clinic in the capital Apia.

29There are fears a demolition program in China's west could re-ignite the tensions which has seen almost 200-people killed and 1600 others injured in street clashes three weeks ago.