1The three major unions began wage bargaining today, and all have revised their claims upwards.

2The Government has approved the establishment of a Department of Conservation, to protect New Zealand's natural environment.

3Police investigating the murder of South Auckland farmer William Worrell believe it is possible he knew his killer.

4The Auckland Regional Authority (ARA) is tonight holding an emergency meeting to consider two motions aimed at resolving its leadership crisis.

5Canterbury rugby coach Alex Wylie (aka Grizz Wylie) was seen retaliating to some cheek from a spectator during last weekend's Ranfurly Shield match.

6The President of El Salvador José Napoleón Duarte, has appeared in public for the first time since his daughter Inez was kidnapped five days ago. Representatives of two Salvadorian left-wing guerrilla groups have just arrived in New Zealand tonight. They have been brought to New Zealand by the Latin American Solidarity Committee and The New Zealand Council of Organisations for Relief Service Overseas (CORSO). They have denied any involvement in the kidnapping.

7Members of the Bolshoi Ballet have arrived in New Zealand for a short season in Auckland, but only half of the troupe can perform on the small stage.

8The unions have all revised their wage claims upwards, despite a warning by Finance Minister Roger Douglas that excessive wage claims would result in business failures and increased unemployment. The Engineers' Union has claimed a 46% wage increase in the wake of the Higher Salaries Commission (HSC) report which gave top civil servants huge pay increases.

9Top business people are meeting in Auckland this week to ponder a trading boom with China. China's race to modernise has led to a staggering increase in trade between New Zealand and China.

10New Zealand farmers are facing tough times, with rising costs and falling incomes. The Government has said that no competent farmer should go to the wall, but federated Farmers believes an increasing number are in real financial difficulty. This is the story of one farmer who has decided to cut his losses and get out of the farming industry.