Auckland, Nov 28 NZPA - Memorial services were held in Antarctica, France and New Auckland today to commemorate two Air New Zealand tragedies separated by 29 years.

Auckland, Nov 28 NZPA - A prayer will be said and a period of silence observed at Scott Base around 12.50pm today to mark the moment 30 years ago when an Air New Zealand plane crashed in Antarctica.

Auckland, Nov 28 NZPA - Fashion designer Trelise Cooper's stepdaughter, who pleaded guilty to drug charges, including supplying methamphetamine, has avoided jail.

Auckland, Nov 28 NZPA - Investors in failed property company Blue Chip have suffered a second setback in the High Court.

Wellington, Nov 28 NZPA - Banking consultant Emma Joanna O'Dowda admitted 11 counts of theft by a person in a special relationship when she appeared in Dunedin District Court yesterday.

Wellington, Nov 28 NZPA - A Crown lawyer's attempt to appeal the name suppression of an entertainer who committed an indecent act on a 16-year-old girl has been blocked by the Solicitor-General.

Save Our Arts Centre (Christchurch) today announced that it is challenging the Arts Centre Trust Board's involvement in the controversial Music School proposal in the High Court. It is also legally challenging the Christchurch City Council on two specific matters,

After a successful TAKE BACK THE NIGHT march on Friday 27th November, women's groups and survivors are geared up to protest the National Party's cuts to sexual abuse counselling.

Common Cause, the alliance of Commonwealth republic movements, is calling on the Commonwealth Secretariat to demonstrate a stronger commitment to its own core values.

Australia is about to extend the Howard government imposed benefit quarantining beyond Northern Territory Aboriginal communities across urban and regional parts of the state. Other income management trials are also underway in Queensland and Western Australia.

Hon Heather Roy address to the Parents of Vision Impaired (NZ) Inc Conference; West Plaza Hotel, Wakefield St, Wellington; Saturday, November 28 2009.Tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou katoa.