1Taranaki faces a huge clean up following devastating flooding across the region. A state of emergency remains in force. Forty Wanganui homeowners have been permitted to return to their homes after the Whanganui River burst its banks.

2Two overdue trampers have been found safe and well in the Arthur's Pass National Park. However two other trampers have been swept to their deaths in the flood-swollen Rakaia River.

3The Human Rights Commission (HRC) has called for a top level inquiry into the alleged abuse of migrant workers.

4The Government will clamp down on the export of native timbers, including woodchips.

5Aucklanders have been relieved of the $14 million burden of the Commonwealth Games debt, The Government will fund half of the shortfall and the rest will be covered by an Airport account held by the region's local bodies.

6Fast bowler Richard Hadlee will retire from international test cricket at the end of this week's test match.

7Christchurch police are not commenting about a mysterious case of body snatching.

8Auckland police are searching for the perpetrators of a gang-style drive-by shooting at an Auckland house last night.

9Lithuanians have today voted to declare their country's independence from the Soviet Union.

10The Catholic Archbishop of Los Angeles has asked for elderly priests and nuns to volunteer themselves as guinea pigs for a new AIDS vaccine.

11Several hours of violent street clashes in Santiago, Chile cast a pall over celebrations marking the election of Patricio Aylwin and the end of the often brutal regime of General Augusto Pinochet.

12An inquiry is under way in Australia following the discovery of a video showing prison officers practicing with banned weapons.

13Foreign Affairs Minister Mike Moore has suggested New Zealand should have another public holiday called New Zealand Day which would celebrate all the different cultures alive within New Zealand. However his idea has met with a muted response.

14Chocolate devotees across the United States are holding events to celebrate their favourite food.