CRICKET VICTORY: Rare moment in New Zealand cricket. The farewell present the coach had hoped for. The team is on the threshold of something special. Only the third victory against the old-country. Elation from the team as they get the first series win in 13 years. Rixon says it is "up there as one of the highlights of my life". Crowd roars as Chris Cairns is named player of the series. Ian Smith says they have a "hell of a lot of guts and team spirit".

LEILANI READ REMEMBERED: Funeral held at Old St Paul's in Wellington for a star goal shooter. Photo, Bible and netball uniform on coffin. Mother reveals that her daughter had been planning her wedding. Grandfather leads a Samoan hymn.

SOUTH AUCKLAND HEALTH: Claim that the health of children in South Auckland has reached a critical low level. Four times the national rate of measles. Third of all children not immunised. A third with iron deficiency. PM wants help to get access to these services to those in need. Every NZer needs to help me with this - she says. Annette King says we need a South Auckland strategy. Nurse out on the beat. Dr says the biggest problem is follow-up as 40% of newborns have no GP. A range of initiatives are underway to fix the problem.

SCOTT WATSON TRIAL: Week 11 in Sounds Murder Trial. An ex-girlfriend is in the dock. She says the hatch on Watson's boat had no scratch marks on it before Christmas. She says that after seeing an Assignment programme on the missing teenagers Watson said Olivia Hope hated her father and wanted to get away from him - Watson said he knew this because he was told by her friends. She later asked him if he had killed them and he became agitated and said he didn't. Defence asked her whether she was asked by police to ask specific questions of Watson. Under cross-examination she was upset when told that Police had taped a conversation she had with officers while on board Watson's boat. Crown hopes to finish this week.

SURVIVALIST FOUND: Man found in desert after a massive search.

© 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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