1The ushering in of 1985 was a happy and relatively peaceful New Year for police and the public in most parts of New Zealand. Traditional trouble spots were quieter than usual because of the tightening of the liquor laws.

2An American Federal Appeals Court has ruled that relatives of the seventeen crew members aboard the Air New Zealand DC-10 which crashed into Mount Erebus in 1979, can sue the United States Government for negligence.

3Prime Minister David Lange says paying back New Zealand's debts will be the Government's major priority for 1985.

4it is expected to take at least two weeks before the full extent of the damage caused by New South Wales bushfires is known.

5Three bombs have exploded in Noumea overnight, causing extensive damage, but no injuries. They are believed to have been planted by militant Kanaks seeking immediate independence for New Caledonia.

6India's new Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was sworn in today, naming five new Cabinet Minister and reshuffling most of his Cabinet portfolios.

7A gunman has surrendered to authorities in Havana, after hijacking an American Airlines DC-10 between the United States Virgin Islands and New York.

8Iran is reported to have stumbled across a secret Swiss bank account containing around $250 million belonging to the late Shah of Iran, and wants the money for use in its war against Iraq.

9A New York City man has surrendered to Police after shooting four threatening youths in a subway train.

10Stewart Island is reeling following a recent 100% rise in passenger and freight rates on the Government ferry Wairoa, and locals have already noticed a big drop in tourism.

11Over a thousand mourners gathered in Rotorua today for the funeral of New Zealand's oldest citizen, Ranginui Leonard who died last week aged 112.

12A group of Maori near Wanganui are breaking with tradition by building their new Marae meeting house (wharenui) out of clay.

13Hundreds of Dunedin residents celebrated the New Year (Hogmanay) in the traditional Scottish style last night.