1New Zealand diplomats are moving quickly to head off an international backlash against New Zealand over sporting contacts with South Africa. A group of Surf Lifesavers, travelling without the blessing of their Association, have left en route to South Africa. New Zealand's sporting links with South Africa have led to Malaysia pulling out of the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens tournament. Included in the New Zealand team for that tournament is Wayne Shelford (Buck Shelford), who toured South Africa with the rebel Cavaliers last year.

2Angry Otautau residents confronted Cabinet Ministers Peter Tapsell and Fraser Colman, when they visited their flood hit town this afternoon. Some have had their homes flooded three times in nine years.

3Invercargill Airport has been evacuated tonight because flood waters are threatening to overflow the stopbanks.

4Aftershocks continue to hit Whakatane and nearby towns,ten days after the 6.2 earthquake that caused millions of dollars worth of damage throughout the Bay of Plenty.

5The surviving vessel of yesterday's fishing boat collision off the North Otago coast, arrived in Wellington this evening, carrying the 16 crewmen from the sunken Taiwanese ship.

6The Government is to spend $200,000 in the Huntly region, where hundreds of miners are to lose their jobs when the new Coal Corporation comes into being. The money is intended to provide community support and help for those without employment.

7New Zealand's largest share float, the $180 million Bank of New Zealand (BNZ) float, has closed today, substantially oversubscribed.

8The Government is contributing $20 million towards a new Maori development bank. known as the Maori Resource Development Corporation (MRDC).

9Survivors and relatives of the victims of the English Channel ferry disaster today held a memorial service at sea, amid speculation that the death toll could be far worse than expected.

10The United States House of Representatives has blocked President Ronald Reagan's plans to give another $40 million worth of aid to Nicaragua's Contra rebels.

11United States President Ronald Reagan appears to have found a new way of avoiding unwelcome questions about the Iran-Contra affair, claiming to have lost his voice.

12An explosion on board a Portuguese Navy ship near the Azores Islands has killed at least five people and injured ten.

13Francesco Di Carlo, said to be London's Mafia Godfather, has been jailed for 25 years for smuggling heroin worth $260 million.