The week that was: Oct 6 -10

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

Murder accused asked Shipley for help
The man accused of murdering Emma Agnew and the rape of another woman, asked the husband of former Prime Minister Jenny Shipley for help.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4717650a11.html

Ex's paedophilia accusation was false
A woman trying to make an assault charge against her boyfriend "go away" ended up causing more serious trouble for herself when she did a letter drop falsely accusing the victim - her former husband - of paedophilia.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4717011a11.html

NZ wins four titles at world shearing champs
New Zealand enjoyed its biggest day at the World Shearing and Woolhandling Championships by winning four of the six titles.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4717676a3600.html

Wild weather stretches emergency services
Strong winds and lashing rain caused havoc in the Wellington region, with flights cancelled, buildings damaged and power lines down.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4718912a11.html

Ex attacks over possum custody, police say it's not OK
A woman was arrested after she kicked in the door of her ex-partner's home, then kicked him, in a dispute over custody of a possum.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4720296a4560.html

Auckland petrol levy approved
Aucklanders are to face higher fuel prices after the Government agreed to allow Auckland Regional Council to impose a fuel levy to fund new projects.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4719088a11.html

Fleeing Aussies opt to live in NZ
Australian immigration authorities say the country has experienced its biggest annual exodus on record after more than 75,000 people left permanently in the past year.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4719478a11.html

Nats trump Labour's tax package
National will deliver tax cuts worth $47 a week to workers on the average wage of $45,000 - most delivered in April 2009.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/vote08/4720318a28477.html

Starbucks attacked over water waste
Starbucks outlets in New Zealand could fill more than 230 Centennial Pools with the amount of clean drinking water they let go down the drain every year.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4720086a11.html

Group sorry about knifing McCoskrie's lawn
A group that left hundreds of plastic knives in Family First director Bob McCoskrie's front lawn has posted an apology on his door.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4721301a11.html

Wife beater revealed to be police prosecutor
The Whakatane man last week found guilty of assaulting his wife is a police prosecutor, it has been revealed.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4721372a11.html

Govt pays $40m for High Country station
The Government has paid $40 million for a 78,000ha chunk of high country land near Nelson Lakes National Park.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4720330a7693.html

Porn addict's residency at risk
A shamed pornography addict risks being kicked out of the country for covertly filming customers in a Starbucks toilet.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4721885a12855.html

Airbus big, but toilet headroom troubles All Black lock
The new Qantas A380 stopped traffic as it made a smooth, very quiet ascent over Auckland.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4722522a11.html

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

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WORLD NEWS

Spermicide Coke research wins Ig Nobel award
A researcher who figured out that Coke explodes sperm and scientists who discovered that people will happily eat stale chips if they crunch loudly enough have won alternative "Ig Nobel" prizes.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4719100a4560.html

Bush doctor cocks up illegal circumcisions
Papua New Guinea police have arrested a village man for performing amateur bush circumcisions at 10 kina (NZ$5.75) a chop.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4720465a4560.html

Outrage at Beaconsfield tragedy musical
A musical-comedy inspired by Australia's 2006 Beaconsfield mine tragedy has been condemned by the family and friends of killed miner Larry Knight.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4718972a4560.html

Dozens injured in Qantas emergency
A Qantas passenger jet plunged earthwards, injuring at least 40 passengers and crew, 15 seriously, and forcing the pilot to make an emergency landing.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4719422a12.html

McCain, Obama battle over taxes in second debate
John McCain and Barack Obama battled over taxes and the best way to help struggling American workers during their second televised presidential debate.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/0a12.html

Fiji court dismisses Bainimarama coup case
Fiji's High Court has dismissed the case brought by deposed prime minister Laisenia Qarase that questioned the legality of the 2006 military takeover.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4721340a12.html

Palin says Obama friendly with terrorists
Sarah Palin has accused Barack Obama of "palling around with terrorists," marking a shift to a nastier tone in the White House race.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4716940a12.html

World's tallest man becomes world's tallest dad
The world's tallest man, China's Bao Xishun, became the world's tallest father this week with the birth of his first child, a boy whose initial height seems a compromise between his gigantic dad and average-sized mum.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4716942a12.html

Aussies among Nepal plane crash dead
Two Australian travellers were among 18 people killed when a small plane crashed and caught fire while landing at a remote airfield near Mount Everest in Nepal.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4720548a12.html

Melamine scare in Chinese vegetables
Vegetables from China are the latest food to come under focus over possible melamine concerns, with Food Standards Australia New Zealand checking on overseas tests.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4721396a12.html

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

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SPORT

Francophile Byron backs Carter
Former All Black halfback Byron Kelleher believes Dan Carter's French sabbatical with Perpignan will prove just the mid-career tonic that the world-class five-eighth might need.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4717850a1823.html

'Embarrassment' Armstrong unloads
Seven times Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong has hit out at organisers of the world's greatest race who said his return to cycling was embarrassing.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4716909a1823.html

Kiwis gamble on injured stars
Injured backs Steve Matai and Brent Webb have been named in the Kiwis squad for the rugby league World Cup beginning in Australia on October 26.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4719177a1823.html

Golfing star admitted to hospital
Five-times major golf winner Seve Ballesteros has been admitted to hospital in Madrid after fainting.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4718907a1823.html

Rugby team ordered off Air NZ flight
Verbal hi-jinks by a player saw the South Canterbury rugby team yellowed carded off an Air New Zealand flight last weekend.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4720104a1823.html

World's best golf course found - in NZ
The Cape Kidnappers golf course, with green fees of $400 a round, has been rated the world's best by England's Daily Telegraph newspaper.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4720101a1823.html

Evers-Swindell twins announce retirement
The retirement of rowing's Golden Girls was dependent on both sisters agreeing to call it quits.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4721460a1823.html

All Whites surge up world rankings
Coach Ricki Herbert believes the All Whites' latest world ranking of 54 could be a catalyst for increased international opportunities.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4721595a1823.html

Black Caps shocked by minnows
New Zealand have a huge slice of humble pie to swallow after losing the opening one-day cricket international to Bangladesh.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4722475a1823.html

Coach Deans places Wallabies on notice
Robbie Deans has warned his Wallabies the looming Spring Tour of Europe will be no end-of-season holiday and that only the true performers will survive.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4722482a1823.html

* Click here to take the weekly sport quiz.

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BUSINESS NEWS

NZX, Skilling outline plan for economy
The current global financial crisis is one of the most serious events the New Zealand economy has faced for decades, according to a new report.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4722619a13.html

Property market flat
The median price of houses sold in September was unchanged from August but 6.1 percent lower than a year ago, according to the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4722782a13.html

NZ risks becoming 'financial pariah'
New Zealand risks becoming a financial pariah if it doesn't legislate to combat money laundering and terrorism.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4722474a13.html

US to back up banks
The United States looks set to start backing up American banks with cash injections ahead of a G7 meeting of economic powers trying to stave off world financial ruin.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4722470a13.html

More and more running risk of credit trap
An increasing number of people aged 18 to 49 and middle-income earners are being forced to turn to credit to make ends meet.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4721875a13.html

Median weekly income increases
New Zealanders' median weekly income from all sources rose to $537 in the June quarter, Statistics New Zealand says.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4721627a13.html

Warehouse opens itself to takeover
Shares in The Warehouse surged over 15 percent as investors speculated on the possibilities of a takeover from Woolworths or Foodstuffs after the iconic New Zealand retailer said it would end its "Extra" style supermarket format.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4721401a13.html

Reserve Bank rules out early rate cut
The Reserve Bank has ruled out an early cut in interest rates.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4721357a13.html

UK Govt provides billions to shore up banks
The British government has pledged hundreds of billions of pounds to rescue its banking system, joining other major economies in cutting interest rates to tackle the global financial crisis.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4720071a13.html

Global rate cuts fail to calm markets
Panic selling again swept global stockmarkets overnight Wednesday after a co-ordinated worldwide cut in interest rates failed to bolster battered investor confidence.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4721268a28898.html

* Click here to take the weekly business quiz.

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ENTERTAINMENT

Lindsay, Paris catfight begins
Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton begin a vicious catfight over the internet.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4719017a1860.html

Susan Sarandon poses nude at 62
The actress takes her clothes off to pose nude for a new book called Hollywood Pinups.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4718051a1860.html

Miley Cyrus turns 16 (+pics)
The Hannah Montana star marks the occasion with a party for friends, family and fans at Disneyland.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4718961a1860.html

Anne Hathaway falls for Nigerian scammer
The Devil Wears Prada star jokes about her new boyfriend, a rich Nigerian Prince.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4719286a1860.html

Conchords soar at NZ Music Awards (+pics)
Flight of the Conchords score four major awards at the annual industry bash.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4720603a1860.html

Comeback confirmed for TV show Top Town
The classic Kiwi TV show is making a comeback, scheduled for December.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4721609a1860.html

Halle Berry named sexiest woman alive
The Catwoman star is given the title by Esquire magazine.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4720151a1860.html

Playmate confirms split with Playboy boss
Holly Madison confirms her relationship with Hugh Hefner is over.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4721333a1860.html

* Click here to take the weekly entertainment quiz.

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STUFF'S PICKS OF THE WEEK 

NZ's top town: it's not Auckland or Wellington
The saying goes "home is where the heart is" but two surveys would have you believe there's more to it than that.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4722671a19716.html

Going down? Driver takes a nosedive in parking lift
An embarrassed driver needed a lift from emergency services after her attempt to use a Wellington parking building elevator nosedived.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4721311a11.html

Capital caveman finds life's a beach
When 71-year-old Ross Collins got bored with sunbathing he picked up a hammer and chisel and smashed his way through metres of rock to create his own split-level cave.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4720755a11.html

Inside the hackers' den
A computer hacker reveals just how he steals people's identities, and how much your credit card details are worth on the black market.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4721588a28.html
 
Beer googles to stop drunken email regrets
Anyone with a Gmail email account can now put up a filter that stops you sending emails while you're drunk.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4720177a28.html

Super key puts the brakes on teen drivers
Parents worried about their teen's driving habits can rest a bit easier with the invention of a special key that stops drivers from speeding, playing music too loud, or not wearing their seatbelts.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4720220a28.html

Tiger caddie chips in $1m for cancer kids
Steve Williams has the best view of the world's best golfer, but he says being able to afford to chip in $1 million to help rebuild a child cancer ward is the highlight of his "exceptional" life.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4719416a11.html

Kaikoura UFO hunt flies again
Thirty years ago Safe Air pilot Bill Startup saw something out the window of his Argosy freight plane that has baffled UFO sceptics and believers to this day.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4721269a11.html

Kiwi skateboards across three continents
New Zealander Rob Thomson says wanting to go outside his comfort zone was the motivation for a 12,000km unassisted skateboard journey across three continents.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4717792a4560.html

Furry friends get church blessing (+pics)
Barking, bleating, meowing and clucking joined the chorus of thanks at St Matthew-in-the-city in Auckland.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4717883a26642.html

Lip-to-lip kissing replacing the air kiss
Lip-to-lip kissing is fast replacing the air kiss as a form of greeting.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4716949a19716.html

WOW factor worth $40m
The World of WearableArt Awards will provide Wellington with its annual wow factor for the next four years in a deal worth more than $40 million to the city.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4717100a11.html

Lotto dreams can have a downside
It sounds like a dream come true - enough money to buy that mansion, that flash car, that around-the-world trip, with enough left over to put you in the lap of luxury for the rest of your life.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4717078a11.html

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