RNZ: The Week In Review

A review of the week's news including: Sky City deal passes first hurdle in parliament, New Zealand negotiators praised for securing trade deal with Taiwan without offending China, home invasion and dramatic chase leaves former soldier dead, New Zealand doctor knocked unconscious by whale in Bondi, stories which never made it into the history books heard at Waitangi Tribunal hearing, Cantabrians offer their opinions on Deans' demise, volunteers battle to save trees planted in memory of First World War soldiers, New Zealanders love their bananas.

A review of the week's news including: Pike River to pay three point four million dollars to families of victims; Maori Party licks its wounds after coming third in by-election, and co-leader of Maori Party Pita Sharples to relinquish leadership; tense meeting between the Prime Minister and Kim Dotcom at parliament; major problems with building consents in Christchurch and chief executive sent home on leave; further complications from rheumatic fever means more surgery for rugby star Robbie Fruean; a memorial service for the 50th anniversary of New Zealand's worst domestic air disaster; many fluent Maori speakers move to Australia; new film on rugby player Stephan Donald and his World Cup match saving kick; aspiring opera star heading overseas, and; thousands hit the slopes of Mount Ruapehu as the ski season begins.

A review of the week's news including : Government to put money and support behind Auckland rail loop, negotiations underway as government seeks support for new spy law,snowed in farmers grateful for volunteers,300 Wellingtonians still without power after last week's storm,net migration hits highest monthly level in three and a half years, voters to go to the polls in Ikaroa-Rawhiti, Defence Minister announces inquiry into safety culture in the military,funding for new heart drug,locals in Hawkes Bay demand more information on proposed new dam, doubts over claims by Auckland man on whereabouts of Hone Heke's bones, posthumous award for Dame Margaret Mahey at children's book competition, portrait of 19th century maori chief on display for the first time.

A review of the week's news including : Government to put money and support behind Auckland rail loop, negotiations underway as government seeks support for new spy law,snowed in farmers grateful for volunteers,300 Wellingtonians still without power after last week's storm,net migration hits highest monthly level in three and a half years, voters to go to the polls in Ikaroa-Rawhiti, Defence Minister announces inquiry into safety culture in the military,funding for new heart drug,locals in Hawkes Bay demand more information on proposed new dam, doubts over claims by Auckland man on whereabouts of Hone Heke's bones, posthumous award for Dame Margaret Mahey at children's book competition, portrait of 19th century maori chief on display for the first time.

A summary of the week's news including: Winter solstice brings worst weather in years, Mark Lundy's case heard at Privy Council, class action against ANZ for "unfair" fees, Peter Dunne rejects "vile speculation", Doha mall fire sentences handed down, stock market soars -- economy doesn't, Taupo mayor furious at SFO investigation, Fonterra no longer to accept milk from "drilling waste" farms, online company beats SKY to EPL rights, tango comes to New Zealand.

A selection of the week's news including: Peter Dunne resigns as government minister but won't say why, Christchurch City Council in danger of losing power to grant building consents, military court of inquiry finds two New Zealand soldiers in Afghanistan wounded by friendly fire, Green Party demanding prime minister be upfront about spying company, worse to come for some Cantabrians' mental health, John Key accusing Labour of hypocrisy over SkyCity hospitality, business advocates welcoming government's offer of mining exploration permits in Northland, opponents of Otago River dam plans say split court decision enough for them, farming leaders warning against country's dependence on dairy sector, Matariki marked by waka in Wellington harbour.

A summary of the week's news including: an historic day for Tuhoe, government agencies with insecure IT systems, Novopay report scathing of Ministry of Education officials, United Future - a political party or not?, Albert Wendt becomes member of Order of New Zealand in Queens Birthday honours, Government urged to get its debt down more quickly, conservation land eyed by Government for platinum exploration, house building up by 21 percent in Canterbury - almost twice national rate, Cricket Canterbury wants Hagley Park for 2015 Cricket World Cup, centenarians still driving on New Zealand roads.

A review of the week's news including: Breakfast in Schools programme to expand, Netsafe welcoming tougher penalties for online child sexual abuse, badly hurt brothers disappointed by army refusal to advocate for compensation, tears and disappointment at Christchurch schools' closures, public consultation closes on country's biggest-ever urban planning exercise, sixty years since Everest was conquered, Government seeking advice on stripping Sir Douglas Graham of his knighthood, Breakfast in Schools cartoonist refuses to apologise, good and bad news for economy, Conservation Department defends merging teams managing recovery of kakapo and takahe, Ali Williams announces retirement from All Blacks, new research shows graduates with highest opinion of themselves are lowest-performing in workplace.

A review of the week's news on Radio New Zealand including: police conduct watchdog says officers' actions during 2007 Ruatoki raids were unlawful, unjustified and unreasonable, new report says Pacific people are the lowest paid and least employed of any community in New Zealand, Murry McCully tells US secretary of state John Kerry NZ will do its bit to support Palestinians-Israel peace process, electricity survey finds a third of people struggle to heat their homes, Hamilton City becomes first council in New Zealand to vote in favour of paying its staff a "living wage", environmentalists horrified at Minister of Conservation's okaying of mining on Denniston Plateau but job-hungry locals delighted, High Court challenge to hospital smoking ban in mental health units, Government's drug-buying agency accused of "terrifying abuse of power", calls for Minister for Primary Industries to step down after China meat blockade, waka return from Rapanui to rapturous welcome, music labels still very much in charge of New Zealand music business.

A selection of the week's news including: Aaron Gilmore quits Parliament, Finance Minister delivers fifth Budget, police defend pursuits of fleeing vehicles after four die, police and NZQA investigating cheating website allegations, convention centre agreement unveiled but groups worried about problem gambling worried, up to 19 months before some Cantabrians find out if their quake-damaged home is repair or rebuild, an emotional return to Cathedral Square as cordons lifted.

A selection of the week's news including: the week from hell for "do you know who I am" Aaron Gilmore, more people in work, Government blames Greens and Labour for lack of interest in Mighty River Power share sale, Timaru mayor pleads with MPs to ban party pills and legal highs, Government sticks with plagued Novopay school payment system, 24/7 gold mining operation planned for underneath Waihi homes, Kaipara rates rebellion leaders say council is using dirty tactics, the problem of criminals cutting off their electronic anklets, Paget takes Badminton, duck shooting season underway.

A review of the week's news, including... The death of The Labour MP for Ikaroa-Rawhiti, Parekura Horomia, allegations of bad behaviour by a National Party list MP, a family who've known for decades who killed their father and husband gets the justice they've been waiting for for almost 34 years, from Nine To Noon, American woman Amanda Knox who was jailed for four years in an Italian prison for the murder of her flatmate, investors in Hanover Finance must now look to a civil case for redress after the Serious Fraud Office announced it would not prosecute the failed company, up to one-point-five billion dollars will be spent over the next ten years to upgrade Inland Revenue's information technology systems, the New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards supreme category has been re-named after the acclaimed author Margaret Mahy and the New Zealand woman about to run from New York to Los Angeles.

A review of the week's news, including... The anonymous critic who waged an online campaign against the Earthquake Commission who says he's giving up writing his blog and is calling for an inquiry into the way the EQC works, the Justice Minister says it needs to be easier for the police to warn people about convicted killers without breaching privacy laws in the wake of the Jade Bayliss murder trial, the father of Emily Longley says he's relieved his daughter's killer will now have to serve his full sentence, there are fresh signs investors are getting cold feet about buying shares in Mighty River Power, the Labour Party leader David Shearer says the latest political polls show the party's policies are hitting the right mark, the tourism industry has welcomed the way a major funding boost is being divided up, after nearly six decades on display at the National Museum of China, a traditional Maori feather cloak is home for a limited time at Te Papa and ANZAC day has been commemorated around the country and the story of an ANZAC day hymn with a twist.

A review of the week's news including: Parliament passes gay marriage legislation, prime minister justifies law changes allowing GCSB to spy on New Zealand citizens and permanent residents, Pike River Coal found guilty of fundamental health and safety breaches, Government accuses opposition of trying to sabotage partial sale of Mighty River Power, Ministry of Education goes to High Court over leaky school buildings, environment watchdog says fisheries staff ignored warnings over native eel, Queenstown bouncer found guilty over Tindall video, Dave McArtney of Hello Sailor dies suddenly, even the food at Gallipoli threatened soldiers' health.

A review of the week's news, including... Pike River victims family members say they are angry and disappointed no government staff will be held accountable for failings that contributed to the mine's explosion, an anonymous blogger appears to have defied a court order preventing the release of Earthquake Commission claimant details, a report into spying by the Government Communications Security Bureau over the last decade has called into question the legality of 55 cases, involving 88 people, the lawyer for the disgraced Kaitaia teacher James Parker says his client doesn't deserve to be locked up indefinitely, median house prices have hit a record high - topping 400-thousand dollars for the first time, Aucklanders might have a new tourist attraction at some point in the form of gently erupting volcanoes, a watering mission for New Zealand's best known and oldest tree and two Kiwi mountaineers are part of a four-strong team to take on an as-yet unconquered peak in the Himalayas.