Veitch used Dame Susan Devoy's character reference in court without permission

There is anger from some high-profile New Zealanders who gave character references in support of Tony Veitch - and didn't realise they would be used by his defence team at sentencing.

• Burnside student regrets Facebook attack on principal

  The student behind the "I Hate Burnside's New Principal" Facebook page says he is horrified at what he started.

• Eden Park planners seek $38.5m from Auckland ratepayers

  Eden Park planners are looking to Auckland ratepayers to guarantee a loan after a budget oversight was revealed today.

• ACC's 'clever' ruse to slow down motorists

  It has been revealed ACC has been using trickery to slow down drivers with a need for speed.

• Judge under fire for awarding name suppression

  A judge is facing strong criticism after granting permanent name suppression to a prominent Manawatu man in possession of child pornography.

• Taxis to be fitted with cameras - Taxi Federation

  The Taxi Federation has revealed that each of their taxis will be fitted with secuirty cameras from August onward.

• Child porn case: Name suppression justified?

  A "prominent" Manawatu man who downloaded 300,000 pornographic images, many of them of children, got name suppression. But why?

• 'Pieman' makes silent court appearance

  A pie-obsessed man has made a brief court appearance, a day after 3 News filmed his bizarre behaviour as he was arrested.

• SAFE protests against pub's catch-a-cray game

  SAFE has staged a protest outside Auckland pub The Albion, over a cray-catching game it offers patrons.

• Widow's act of forgiveness sways judge

  A man who drove drunk and killed a cyclist in a hit and run smash has received a home detention sentence.

• Taser use to be widespread amongst police

  Police say the introduction of Tasers has been a success and they are now preparing to train thousands of officers to use the stun gun.

• Arson attacks put 350 rare kiwi at risk

  DOC says it is extremely lucky no kiwi appear to have been killed in a series of arson attacks on the West Coast.

• Details of underage Keri Keri rape case emerge

  The final terrifying moments of a Keri Keri schoolgirl's life have been described to a jury.

• Justice Minister launches review of knife laws

  A review of knife laws has been ordered amid concerns at the rising number of fistfights that turn fatal.

• Police say first year of taser use a 'success'

  The Police Association says the first year of police in some districts having tasers available has been a success.

• Plans to privatise Mackenzie Country angers Greens

  Documents obtained by Forest and Bird show that the government is trying to stop the Department of Conservation from protecting the Mackenzie Country in the South Island.

• Motorway on-ramp lights work - NZTA

  A New Zealand Transport Agency study has found that traffic lights installed at motorway on-ramps have significantly helped in reducing traffic congestion during peak hour.

• Police retrace Hiren Mohini's last steps

  Detectives believe taxi driver Hiren Mohini collected his last passenger around 1:10am at the Co-Op taxi stand outside SkyCity.

• Hi-tech system to take the hassle out of parking

  Finding an empty parking space might get a little easier thanks to a hi-tech system developed in New Zealand.

• Stabbing accused unleashes bizarre pie rant

  Police are astounded at the behaviour of an offender who showed more concern for the meat pie he was eating than the man he'd allegedly just stabbed.

• High tides increase toxic sea slug danger

  Unusually low tides mean they have been found higher on the beach than usual, and one family's close call on the North Shore is a timely reminder of the dangers they pose.