134 Hour Shift Statistics show that doctors in New Zealand's hospitals are often under huge amounts of stress. They have higher than usual numbers of suicide, alcohol abuse and divorce, making the dangers of stress exceptionally high. The Close Up team spent 34 hours at Auckland Hospital and found that a doctor's life is nowhere near as glamorous as it is often portrayed.

2A Little Knowledge . . . From next year, some of New Zealand's school children will be taught about their bodies as part of the curriculum, including teachings about sex and reproduction. The pilot Health syllabus is still being prepared, but has already been criticised by some parents who believe sex education belongs in the home, not the school.

3All Plastic, No Pain This Christmas, it is possible to do some Christmas shopping without using cash, thanks to a new way to pay. It is called Electronic Funds Transfer at Point of Sale (EFTPOS) and it is slowly becoming more common in New Zealand. How does this electronic payment system work? Should the public be worried about the introduction of another arm of Big Brother?