SNOW DUMP: Coronet Peak receives 1.3 meters of snow. Snow celebrations in Queenstown. All Blacks in Snow.

GALE FORCE WINDS: Trees up rooted and sheds flattened in Southland.

RAINS CAUSE HAVOC: Six car pile up on State Highway three as heavy rains make travelling difficult.

HOME INVADER: A 13-year-old home invading youth who repeatedly bashed a man on the head with a stick is to be dealt with by youth-aid and will not be charged.

IRELAND: The British and Irish governments have explained how they would like to progress peace in Northern Ireland. They have proposed a plan - a Devolution Plan - which would see an Executive set up - with disarmament to follow over following months through to May 2000. Ulster unionists

KOSOVO: Princess Anne has flown to Kosovo on double mission for Save The Children Fund and as commander of several regiments.

NICK LEESON: Barings destroyer Nick Leeson has been released from jail in Singapore and is returning to Europe with cancer. Leeson is about to appear in a movie and is hot property on the TV interview circuit.

FINGERS: Toddler is recovering in Lower Hutt Hospital after being chopped on his fingers by one of his brothers. Took surgeons four hours to reattach two fingers.

CRICKET: Cricket but not as we know it. Test set to end early after 20 wickets fall in a day.

© Scoop Media

Alastair Thompson

Scoop Publisher

Alastair Thompson is the co-founder of Scoop. He is of Scottish and Irish extraction and from Wellington, New Zealand. Alastair has 24 years experience in the media, at the Dominion, National Business Review, North & South magazine, Straight Furrow newspaper and online since 1997. He is the winner of several journalism awards for business and investigative work.

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