GANG INTIMIDATION: Gang member arrested for threatening his former Invercargill neighbours on last night's 60 minutes programme. He will face a charge of threatening GBH. Family says they had to stand up to the mob. Mob now says it is not after the Lawtons. The mob member has been arrested and will spend night in cells.

SOUTHERLY BLAST: Southerly Blast rushes up the country. Otago and Southland get lots of snow. Snow welcome to Southern Farmers. Not too hard on the stock as they haven't been shorn. Main concern tonight is frost and freezing roads. Forecasters expect lots of snow in North Island tomorrow. Weather Centre: By this time tomorrow everyone will be experiencing the cold. This pocket of cold weather will last all week. Good news for ski industry. Snow already there. All the right ingredients for skiing snow in abundance.

WINZ: PM has broken silence on Winz spending. Shipley says she doesn't want to make a judgement but is very angry. She is not trying to justify the $165,000 tax. Full cost of the conference is $250,000. "It is Michael Wintringham's job to explain how this came about. Video's used to communicate with staff - clipping from video - now it seems the PM herself is one of the greatest critics.

GUNMAN ON RUN: Gunman on the run after armorguard officer set upon by gunman and shot in the leg at an Auckland mall. Eyewitnesses interviewed. Police armed offenders swooped on the area. But gunman remains at large. Police believe black Honda Civic was the getaway car.

CHILD MURDER: Trial begins for man accused of murdering a child.

PETROL PRICES UP: Shell increasing petrol prices by three cents a litre tonight. Other wholesalers monitoring the situation.

CRICKET: Cricketers on a high after victory at Lourdes. First New Zealand side to win at Lourdes since 1931. 13th attempt at Lourdes unlucky for England. Spirits high in London Kiwi pubs - at both rugby and cricket victories.

© 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.

CONTACT ALASTAIR THOMPSON

• Mobile - 021707044
• Twitter - @althecat
• Google+

• Linkedin
• Facebook
• Email - alastair@scoop.co.nz