1The Government plans to close down more than half of the Department of Social Welfare (DSW) homes for at-risk teenagers. Two hundred DSW jobs will go. This announcement has coincided with a spike in violent crime committed by youths.

2Mental health advocates say psychiatric patients are being moved out of hospitals without money being provided for their follow-up care in the community.

3The depositions hearing of David Wayne Tamihere, accused of murdering Swedish tourists Sven Höglin and Heidi Paakkonen has been shrouded in secrecy this afternoon.

4Defence Minister Peter Tapsell says up to 10% of the overall Defence Force staff could lose their jobs, with the army being the hardest hit.

5New Zealand Steel workers have voted to defy a tapu placed on the company's iron sand mine at Glenbrook by local iwi Ngati Te Ata, and plan to return to work tomorrow.

6Opposition MP Winston Peters has branded the high rate of educational failure by Maori students a "scandal" and blamed the parents.

7A 15-year long Child Health Study by Otago University has revealed that one in five 15 year old New Zealanders can not read properly.

8Chase Corporation has announced a $74 million half-yearly loss. It's shares are now worthless.

9A rigger plunged 110 metres to his death from the Mount Kaka television transmitter this afternoon.

10There were angry scenes outside a depositions hearing in Otahuhu over New Zealand's first bungee jumping-related death.

11All Blacks Steve McDowell and Alan Whetton had free diabetes tests this afternoon, in an effort to raise public awareness about the disease.

12The Tuatara in Southland Museum are currently housed in inadequate temporary premises because of delays in building a new enclosure for them. The consequences have literally been life or death for the Tuatara.