1An auction of some of New Zealand's top artworks, including 28 paintings by forgotten New Zealand artist Francis McCracken, has fallen well below expectations in Auckland this evening.

2Opposition leader Jim McLay has attacked the Government's economic policy and predicted a "crash landing" of New Zealand's economy next year.

3Prime Minister David Lange says he will withhold information from the courts and deliberately ignore his party's resolutions to keep secret his deliberations on nuclear warship visits.

4Farmers expecting direct help from the Government's long-awaited farm package, may be disappointed, according to Prime Minister David Lange, who is at pains to point out that the package will not provide a miracle cure.

5An auction of some of New Zealand's top artworks, including 28 paintings by forgotten New Zealand artist Francis McCracken, has fallen well below expectations in Auckland this evening.

6There has been a breakthrough in the dispute that has closed the Horotiu Freezing Works near hamilton for the past eight weeks.

7Soviet doctor Yevgeny Chazov, the joint winner of this year's Nobel Peace Prize, has refused to comment on Western criticism that he was allegedly involved in a campaign to discredit Soviet dissident Andrei Sakharov.

8Pope John Paul II closed the Synod of Bishops today with a declaration that the Roman Catholic Church truly desires to be a Church in the modern world.

9Ceremonies have been held in New York's Central Park to mark the death of musician John Lennon, shot outside his New York apartment building.

10The crew of the twin-hulled Polynesian canoe Hōkūleʻa spent the night resting in the Bay of Islands after their arrival from Rarotonga last evening, The canoe will remain in New Zealand for three months while it is refitted for its return trip to Hawaii.

11The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Ministers meeting in Geneva appear to be nearing a consensus which they hope will preserve their grip on the world trade in oil. If they decide to cut prices considerably, will this have any effect on the price of petrol in new Zealand?

12Astronomers are excited at the prospect of Halley's Comet putting on a display in New Zealand skies over the next few months. A look at the phenomenon of Halley-mania.