The week that was: Sept 29 - Oct 3

Stuff.co.nz takes a look at some of the stories that made the news this week.

Click to jump to National News, World News, Sport, Business News, Entertainment News, Stuff's Picks of the Week

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NATIONAL NEWS

Cullen, Key say bailout failure could hurt NZ
New Zealand could suffer serious economic damage if the United States fails to reanimate a failed US$700 billion (NZ$1.05 trillion) bailout plan for its ailing financial sector, the Government and the Opposition say.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4710802a6160.html

Stars' Kiwi pilot dies in crash
A New Zealand top helicopter pilot who counted celebrities such as Britney Spears and Mel Gibson amongst his passengers, has died in a helicopter crash in Papua New Guinea.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4712143a11.html

Body-in-bin case Kiwi gets 4 years
The mother of Stephen Royds, the Kiwi who preserved his girlfriend's body on dry ice for nearly a year in the United States, says she is pleased her son has opted not to fight Californian drug charges.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4711515a11.html

Man jailed for life for murder of Kiwi in London
A man has been jailed for life for the London murder of Hawke's Bay woman Cathy Marlow, a former work colleague who had disturbed him trying to steal laptops from offices he had shared with her before he was sacked.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4712124a11.html

A death that sent a message
Among more than 1000 mourners who gathered to give Austin Hemmings a hero's' farewell, one woman sat quietly watching.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4712902a11.html

16 more violent incidents each day
A slight drop in overall crime has failed to mask an increase in murders, youth violence and domestic assaults that has police dealing with 16 more violent incidents a day than a year ago.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4712888a11.html

Booby trap leaves schoolboy with slashed throat
Police are investigating a "vicious" booby trap that has left a Canterbury teenager with a slashed throat.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4712924a11.html

Mum accused of stashing baby in freezer
Two government agencies have apologised to a grieving mother for a blunder that led to police officers searching her house for her dead baby's body.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4712885a11.html

Thompson cover-up had 'corrosive effects'
Former Immigration boss Mary-Anne Thompson has agreed that her actions were "unwise" after the release of a highly critical report by the State Services Commission.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4714866a6160.html

Jail for $4 million fraudster
A man who stole more than $4 million has been jailed for four and a half years.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4714957a11.html

* Click here to take this week's national news quiz.

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WORLD NEWS

Chavez says Venezuela will develop nuclear power
President Hugo Chavez says Venezuela will develop a nuclear reactor for peaceful purposes, in another challenge to Washington just days after Russia offered nuclear assistance to the socialist Latin American leader.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4709766a12.html

Speedboat bank raiders kill one in Cameroon
Gunmen in speedboats have raided a coastal city in southwest Cameroon early, killing one person and robbing four banks, police and state radio say.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4709544a12.html

Chinese milk scandal hits Cadbury
Cadbury has withdrawn 11 products, including chocolate eclairs sold in Australia, after tests had found they contained the industrial chemical at the centre of China's toxic milk scandal.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4710796a12.html

Body-on-ice man guilty on drugs charges
Former Queenstown man Stephen David Royds – who stoked headlines when police investigating cocaine sales found his girlfriend's corpse on dry ice in his California hotel room – has pleaded guilty to felony drug charges.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4711300a12.html

Boy survives supermarket robbery stabbing
Police have released shocking X-ray images of a 16-year-old with a knife lodged in his head after a stabbing in London, England, to serve as a warning about the dangers of knife crime.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4712255a12.html

Canada PM Harper faces plagiarism charges
Canadian politicians have accused Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper of plagiarism in a 2003 speech on Iraq, giving the front-runner an unwelcome bump as he heads into this week's election debates.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4712222a12.html

Garden gnome attack fractured skull, court told
A Tasmanian man has received a suspended jail term for hurling a garden gnome fragment that fractured a female neighbour's skull.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4712733a12.html

EU monitors enter Georgian buffer zones
The first patrols of EU ceasefire monitors entered a buffer zone around Georgia's breakaway South Ossetia region but it was not clear if delays over access for the whole EU force were resolved.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4712943a12.html

Former royal butler pleads guilty to child sex crimes
A former butler to The Queen is to be sentenced after pleading guilty to multiple child sex offences.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4714807a12.html

Human remains found at Fossett wreck site
US Federal investigators say they have found body parts amid the wreckage of missing adventurer Steve Fossett's airplane in the mountains of eastern California.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4714745a12.html

* Click here to take this week's world news quiz.

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SPORT

Ranfurly Shield no shows just the ticket
Just over 9000 people had a ticket to Wellington's first Ranfurly Shield defence in 26 years and didn't go to the game.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4708979a1823.html

Rugby play-off system cops Cantab flak
It may have its own flaws, but the National Rugby League's McIntyre System is still a good deal fairer than the top-eight format used in New Zealand provincial rugby, says Canterbury coach Rob Penney.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4708991a1823.html

Munster denied test stars to face ABs
The All Blacks' gruelling end-of-year tour just got a little easier after the Irish rugby union announced that Munster would not feature their international stars for their midweek match against the All Blacks.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4710871a1823.html

Lions coach knocks on Gatland's door
Kiwi Warren Gatland looks set for a formal role with the British & Irish Lions after being approached by experienced head coach Ian McGeechan who will oversee next year's tour of South Africa.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4711280a1823.html

Warriors lose beards for good cause (+pics)
It wasn't the warmest of Auckland mornings for the New Zealand Warriors to part with their facial growth.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4712298a1823.html

Team NZ receive massive boost
Team New Zealand have received a boost with lead sponsor Emirates confirming its continued support through to the next America's Cup yachting competition.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4712456a1823.html

Manu and the Mongrel Mob: why I had to escape
If fate had played a different role in his life, not to mention family, Sika Manu could have been behind bars this weekend, not front row in a grand final.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4713419a1823.html

Irish star gets 18-week ban for eye-gouging
Ireland flanker Neil Best won't be lining out against the All Blacks next month after being given an 18-week ban for eye-gouging in England club play.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4713426a1823.html

Henry says ABs squad picked
Graham  Henry says the All Blacks coaches have all but picked their 35-strong squad for next month's test against Australia and the tour to Europe.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4714030a1823.html

Breakers thrash Adelaide
New Zealand Breakers coach Andrej Lemanis is refusing to get carried away with his team's spectacular start to the new Australian NBL season, the latest chapter coming with a record-breaking 118-80 victory over the Adelaide 36ers.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4714023a1823.html

* Click here to take the weekly sport quiz.

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BUSINESS NEWS

Wall St bailout gets thumbs up
The US Senate has passed the financial bailout bill, with presidential nominees John McCain and Barack Obama in attendance.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4712944a13.html

Telecom boss takes aim at regulation
Telecom boss Paul Reynolds is calling for changes to the way the regulatory system works, suggesting the current rules could scare investors away.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4713604a13.html

State power companies report
The state-owned power companies are reporting their financial results for the year to June today - and there are some strong results.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4713791a13.html

Second Kiwi firm stalled by credit crunch
The global credit crunch has directly hit a second New Zealand firm in as many days. Mataura Valley Milk says it has been forced to halt plans for major investment.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4713433a13.html

Bank predicts job losses
Thousands of people may lose their jobs in the coming year as unemployment rises towards 5 percent, but some sectors will be crying out for workers and will have to pay more, Westpac says.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4712798a13.html

Crunch raises borrowing costs
Borrowing money - both internationally and locally - has just got harder and more expensive for New Zealand companies, thanks to the United States financial meltdown.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4712799a13.html

Fewer people, bigger profit
Air New Zealand is on track to beat its full year, zero profit forecast for 2009 despite carrying fewer passengers in the first two months of its financial year, but analysts warn tough times lie ahead.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4712866a13.html

PGG still working on meat industry plan
PGG Wrightson is continuing to work to put together a finance package for its $220 million bid to buy a 50 percent stake in meat processor Silver Fern Farms.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4712801a13.html

Petrol prices fall again
Major oil companies dropped fuel prices by 6c a litre on Wednesday.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4712680a13.html

Cushion of cash to ease pressure
Banks have a two- or three-month cushion of cash, but interest rates could rise and credit will be difficult to get if a Wall Street package is not sorted out soon, the Treasury and the Government warned on Wednesday.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4711454a13.html

Pumpkin Patch announces redundancies
Pumpkin Patch is making 30 staff redundant at its head office in Auckland to reduce costs as economies slow.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4715054a13.html

Reserve Bank makes big profit on Kiwi dollar
Reserve Bank governor Alan Bollard has a licence to print money and is proving it with a $535 million profit this year, easily beating the combined profits of all four state power companies.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4714061a13.html

* Click here to take the weekly business quiz.

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ENTERTAINMENT

Head Like a Hole reform
The iconic 90s rockers reform to headline the Homegrown music festival in March next year.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4709549a4500.html

Arctic Monkeys, Prodigy, Ting Tings join BDO lineup
The first line-up for New Zealand’s biggest music festival is announced.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4709935a4500.html

Artist wants to smoke Cobain’s ashes
An Australian artist wants smoke Kurt Cobain’s stolen ashes in a symbolic act to ‘free’ the dead rock star.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4713605a4500.html
 
Rob Guest dies
The theatre legend dies of a massive stroke in Melbourne.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4713410a14297.html

TV3 names new Sunrise presenter
Oliver Driver is named as James Coleman’s replacement on the morning news show.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4712236a1869.html

Christina Applegate posed nude before surgery
The Married … With Children star admits posing for raunchy snaps before her double masectomy.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4713883a5620.html

Ex wants to sell Britney sex tape
Paparazzi photographer Adnan Ghalib claims he owns a two-hour sex tape of Britney wearing nothing more than a pink wig.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4711096a5620.html

Johnny Depp confirms fourth Pirates film
A fourth Pirates of the Caribbean film is planned, starring Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4706908a1870.html

Heather Locklear gets arrested
The former Melrose Place star is found sitting in her car blocking traffic.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4709721a1860.html

Crowe’s figures flawed in bailout plan
Russell Crowe’s plan to help stop the US financial crisis probably wouldn’t work.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4712442a1860.html

* Click here to take the weekly entertainment quiz.

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STUFF'S PICKS OF THE WEEK 

Drunk driver's keys confiscated on morning booze run
A liquor store owner was so worried about how drunk Ross Stuart Walter Andrews was, he took his car keys off him - at 10.30 in the morning.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4713516a12855.html

Capital's beaches open to nudists
This summer could become a real eye-opener with nudists legally allowed to strut their stuff on Wellington beaches, including the golden sands of Oriental Bay.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4710174a11.html

The top 10 stolen cars: Is yours a target?
The Nissan Silvia, Subaru Impreza WRX and BMW 325 coupe have topped AA Insurance's list of cars most attractive to car thieves.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4712429a30.html

Get set for a calm, hot spring
It's almost time to break out the barbecue and the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research forecasts hotter than normal temperatures till December.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4711449a11.html

One in five book hotel for one-night stand
One New Zealander in five has booked a hotel room with a one-night stand in mind, a poll conducted by an online travel company reveals.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4711324a19716.html

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