1Maori Party Co-Leader Pita Sharples has resigned as co-leader after nine years in Parliament and has announced he will retire from politics all together at the next election.

2Millionaire businessman Sir Owen Glenn's inquiry into family violence is on the brink of collapse due to a rush of resignations from his think-tank, following revelations Glenn was charged with abusing a young woman in Hawaii a decade ago.

3A top Hamilton cyclist is in a critical condition after being hit by a car last night.

4The nineteen firefighters who died in an Arizona wildfire were trying to survive the blaze in special safety pods.

5Ed Husic, one of Kevin Rudd's Cabinet Ministers, has been abused for taking the Oath of Office on the Koran instead of the Bible.

6A New Zealand woman who has endured years of excruciating pelvic pain after having mesh inserted during surgery has joined a class action lawsuit being taken against the manufacturers in the United States.

7The former directors of Lombard Finance will serve tougher home detention sentences after being found guilty of making false statements to investors.

8Two teenagers have been bailed after appearing in Waitakere District Court charged with the manslaughter of a fifteen year old Auckland schoolboy last month.

9Parliament's top secret Intelligence and Security Committee lifted the veil of secrecy this afternoon. Prime Minister John Key and other political leaders were there to hear concerns about the Government's controversial new Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) legislation which will allow New Zealand's spies to snoop on social media sites.

10Egypt's powerful army has given embattled President Mohamed Morsi 48 hours to restore order or face intervention.

11The United States is being accused of a campaign of deception to prevent intelligence whistle-blower Edward Snowden finding asylum.

12Nelson Mandela's former wife Winnie says she is disappointed that many are talking about him as though he were already dead.

13A meeting between the Government and Christchurch City managers will take place tomorrow to discuss the Council's loss of its right to issue building consents.

14A blood test is being developed in Britain that can identify mothers at risk of developing post-natal depression even before they give birth.