1This morning the Prime Minister was refusing to confirm or deny whether a group of Israelis in Christchurch at the time of the February earthquake were spies - saying it was not in the national interest for him to do so. This afternoon he said that the SIS had investigated the rapid departure of two other Israelis and found no link to Israeli intelligence.

2The journalist whose story sparked the speculation today about Israeli spy operations in Christchurch says he is not buying the Prime Minister's claim that the investigations are all over. The story was the result of two month's work.

3In the UK Select Committee hearing into phone hacking Rupert and James Murdoch answered questions on the extent of their knowledge of the hacking. They also claimed that they were victims as well and apologised for the distress their employees caused, but they didn't know about it.

4The Prime Minister Julia Gillard has said the Australian arm of News Corp will also have to answer hard questions following the phone hacking scandal

5Business News

6A dissident Fiji military commander who's now in New Zealand is denying accusations he was involved in torture

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8The country's export-led recovery is facing fresh wobbles after another fall in dairy prices and a new high for the New Zealand dollar today

9The Prime Minister has confirmed multiple security agencies investigated the unusual behaviour of a group of Israelis after the February quake in Christchurch, but there is no evidence to link them with security services.

10Thirty to forty jobs are to go at the Christchurch department store, Ballantynes, because of earthquake damage to it's central city shop. The company says it is still committed to re-opening the shop, but it will be significantly smaller.

11The British Prime Minister David Cameron will be grilled by parliament later today about his decision to employ a former tabloid newspaper editor caught up in the phone-hacking scandal at News of the World

12Manu Korihi News, including; The Crown's to apologise to a Poverty Bay iwi for multiple Treaty breaches that include the unjustified use of military force in Gisborne, and the summary executions of prisoners at Ngatapa in 1869; The Northland Labour MP, Kelvin Davis, says the lack of successful bids for oil prospecting off Northland's west coast gives time for more consultation with Maori; A professor's to look at why Maori babies are at a high risk of dying in their sleep; A cycle-trail designer has given a big thumbs-up after test riding a coast-to-coast trail being built in the Far North

13The Pike River Royal Commission has been told the coal inside the mine was not prone to spontaneous combustion

14A judge is poised to rule on whether the Destiny Church co-founder, Hannah Tamaki can carry on with her controversial challenge to head up the Maori Women's Welfare League. She wants to be president but there is opposition on the grounds she is too sectarian,

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16Further to the UK phone hacking scandal, one of Scotland Yard's most senior officers said more people at News International should consider resigning over the company's alleged cover-up of phone hacking. Assistant commissioner John Yates told the Home Affairs Select Committee that the example set by himself and Scotland Yard commissioner, Sir Paul Stephenson, in resigning over the scandal, should be followed at News International.

17The Australian arm of Rupert Murdoch's Newscorp has been told it will have to answer hard questions following the growing phone hacking scandal, such as if there is anything comparable happening in Australia.

18The discovery of a second stoat on Kapiti Island is a clear sign of a breeding population on the wildlife reserve, according to the Department of Conservation, as it was caught about 700-metres from where a male stoat was found in February.

19Business News including; AMP Capital Investors expect the Reserve Bank to raise interest rates slowly from September as the economy strengthens further

20Team New Zealand's crew is heading to Europe in the next days preparing for this country's first campaign for 17 years in sailing's premier round-the-world race, in their boat Camper. There is also a race stopover in New Zealand.

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22A former Fijian army colonel Tevita Mara believes he would be detained and tortured if he went back to Fiji. There is a formal request from Fiji for his arrest.

23Research into detecting cancer in urine has received more than 800 thousand dollars in the latest round of major health science funding. Other projects are ; the use of dopamine to suppress appetite; teenagers who self harm; the Christchurch development study);

24Motorbike riders are being encouraged to dob in truck drivers who dump animal waste on the roads, using a text service.

25Manu Korihi News, including; A Ngati Porou leader says the ACT Party leader is trying to buy Maori votes by comparing his party's values to those of the late Sir Apirana Ngata. The Rongowhakaata iwi says the main focus of their treaty settlement package being signed today will start the return of their confiscated ancestral meeting house, which is being held at Te Papa Tongarewa. A Ngati Koata man whose people are traditional kaitiaki of the tuatara says he's alarmed the animal's name has been used to brand a car.

26Israeli navy commandos have intercepted the sole remaining boat from the aborted international flotilla of ships that was to attempt to take aid to Gaza as it approached the blockaded Palestinian territory, the Israeli military said.

27Nearly Two-years after a deadly earthquake struck Samoa it is once again a tourist destination.