1Strong winds and high temperatures are making the job of fire fighters battling huge bush fires in New South Wales especially difficult. Meanwhile, there is outrage at the revelations that some landlords are taking advantage of the demand caused by the destruction of homes in the fires to raise rents.

2It has been revealed that National Party back bench MP for Rodney Mark Mitchell was the person who tipped Len Brown off that news of his affair was about to be made public, implying that the National Party was aware of the Mayor's impropriety and may have been involved in it becoming public knowledge. Mitchell allegedly advised Auckland Councillor Penny Webster, and she contacted Brown to warn him of the impending scandal.

3The Taranaki Outdoor Pursuits Centre has been ordered to pay over $250,000 to the families of the three people killed on Paritutu Rock during a Spotswood College trip.

4The Government has reached an agreement with New Zealand Post to reduce mail deliveries in towns and cities to only three times a week from July 2015.

5Anadarko, the oil company behind a proposed deep sea well in the Taranaki Basin says if the well goes out of control there is a 50% chance of oil washing ashore. However, the Energy and Resources Minister Simon Bridges says he has neither read the report nor been briefed on it.

6A Christchurch family is calling for stronger warning signs on bags of garden potting mix following the Coroner's finding that the death of a 63 year old woman was caused by Legionnaires Disease which she contracted by handling a compost bag.

7A Wainuiomata cat has miraculously survived being shot in the head with a crossbow.

8Details of deep cuts in health spending have emerged in a document leaked to the Labour Party.

9European Union leaders are expected to discuss how to tackle the problem of illegal migrants drowning in the Mediterranean when they meet in Brussels this week.

10Two Police officers have been honoured for saving a young boy from raging surf in Napier seven months ago.

11The New Zealand Festival has announced its line up for next year. It's new Artistic Director is promising arts events that will appeal to a broad range of audiences.