1The two New Zealand yachts are leading the Whitbread Round the World Yacht Race, having left Florida bound for Southampton.

2The Labour Party's Auckland regional conference wound up today, with officials pleased that the mudslinging of last year was not present this time.

3The National Party is upset at provocative comments made by Maori Affairs spokesman Winston Peters about the Treaty of Waitangi and race relations in New Zealand.

4Detectives are investigating two vicious rapes, one in Christchurch and the other in Auckland.

5Foreign Ministers from the two Germanys and the four World War Two allies began historic talks today which may reshape the map of Europe.

6One hundred former South African police officers and prison warders marched in Johannesburg to protest against racial discrimination in the police and prison system.

7Flood waters have led to hundreds of evacuations across northern Texas, Arkansas and Oklahoma.

8Auckland's police helicopter Eagle is proving a valuable crime buster, mainly operating during daylight hours. But now it is making regular night patrols too.