1New Zealand's first heart transplant operation has been cancelled. Health Minister Dr Michael Bassett has accused the surgeons concerned of "hijacking the public health system in an effort to become New Zealand's Christiaan Barnard." However, the cardiac team deny this is the case and have expressed anger and frustration at having the procedure stopped. Lions clubs say they will continue to help fundraise towards the cost of sending New Zealand heart patients to London for transplant operations in the meantime. However, they say the fundraising is becoming harder.

2Eleven year old Southland girl Tracey Holmes is recovering in London after undergoing her second liver replacement operation.

3The New Zealand man named by the FBI in connection with a multi-million dollar drug smuggling operation centered in the America's Cup spectator launch Pacific Challenge, has returned to Auckland, denying any involvement.

4A fleet of small fishing trawlers and two helicopters have been preparing to drag a stranded fishing boat off rocky Motunau Beach.

5Members of Specific Learning Disabilities New Zealand (SPELD) have reacted angrily to Dr David Share's claim that dyslexia is a myth.

6West Belfast police have seized an Irish Republican Army (IRA) arms cache that included a tonne of explosives and a machine gun capable of shooting down helicopters.

7Two thousand Taiwanese jerry cans, that have been on sale in new Zealand for the past eighteen months, have now been found to be dangerous when used to carry petrol.

8The Weather Office has taken delivery of a $2.5 million computer to improve its forecasts and expand its services.