A major restoration is being planned for the Larnach tomb in Dunedin's Northern Cemetery.

Police are investigating an alleged group beating, which has blighted the aftermath of the funeral for Haast rescue pilot Morgan Saxton, at Wanaka Airport, last week.

A man who sexually assaulted a schoolgirl in northwest Auckland last week after posing as a truancy officer may have not have been a local, police say.

The number of properties sold by Harcourts was down sharply on year ago figures but the real estate agent is hopeful of a pick up in the property market.

Labour leader Phil Goff named his shadow Cabinet today promoting some new faces but relying on experience to attack National.

The Indian Navy has scored a rare victory in the sea war against Somalia-based piracy, sinking a ship used as a base by the increasingly violent pirates.

Japanese company Nikken Seil is expected to decide by the end of the month whether it will sell two big farms it bought for a grand scheme involving organic farming and health foods.