1Budget Reaction Finance Minister Roger Douglas' Budget plan to sell off $9 billion worth of public assets faced considerable backlash today - most of it from within the Labour Party itself. Rebel backbench MP Jim Anderton has promised to abstain from voting on the legislation, a move which could see him expelled from Caucus. The Labour Party Council has also signaled its intention to fight against the sale of State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) amid mounting public criticism of the direction of Rogernomics.

2Budget Reaction The Government's failure to address New Zealand's worsening unemployment programme in the Budget has angered trade unions.

3Budget Reaction Rogernomics and the Budget have received endorsement from a Tapanui forestry worker, who believes the economic reforms are headed in the right direction.

4A Paparua Prison inmate who had his hand amputated after an injection of illicit drugs is seeking over $20,000 from the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC).

5Howard Marks, the alleged mastermind of the world's biggest drugs ring, says he is being framed. Meanwhile there has been another huge drugs bust in Egypt, where opium, hashish and cannabis were found on board a British cargo ship.

6Soweto residents are stunned at an apparent arson attack on the home of anti apartheid activist Winnie Mandela.

7Sydney police have stormed a house and found the charred body of a man who had been on a shooting spree that injured at least one other person.

8The Government is considering making disaster insurance compulsory for all homeowners, following the Budget announcement putting the Earthquake and War Commission (EQC) on a commercial footing.

9A High Court case is underway to decide who owns the bullion currently held by Goldcorp.

10Breaking News Reports are coming in about an armed robbery in a Christchurch shopping centre.

11Conservation Week begins tomorrow. As part of the 'Between Land and Sea' theme, Conservation Minister Helen Clark today launched a scheme devised by a Wellington primary school which she hopes will spread throughout New Zealand. The school will become the guardians of Oyster Bay, keeping it clean and pollution-free.