Christchurch youth were quick to turn to social networking sites to tell their stories after a 7.1 earthquake hit their hometown in the early hours on Saturday morning.

Some of NewsWire reporter NICOLE BENNIK’s friends were out early with their video camera to record the chaos.

Wellingtonians are evenly split over whether the SAS should be withdrawn from Afghanistan.

But a clear majority thinks the Kiwi reconstruction team should stay in Bamiyan Province, according to four NewsWire polls conducted over the past three weeks.

Whitireia Community Polytechnic is distancing itself from a scandal that has erupted over funds and assets missing from the polytech’s student association.

CEO Don Campbell points out that the students’ association is an independent body over which the polytech has no direct control.

Complaints about beauty therapy clinics and nail bars may see Wellington City Council add them to its inspection regime.

Enquiries by AARON VAN DELDEN reveal incidents involving infections and pests, and put the issue on the council’s radar.

The suggestion to change the spelling of Rimutaka – to Remutaka – is more to do with pronunciation than spelling, says the local iwi.

Mike Kawana, of Rangitane-O-Wairarapa, says Rimutaka, in fact, “means nothing”, reports OWEN WINTER.

Internationally recognised scientists have brought their scalpels to Te Papa for a rare chance to dissect a dead baby orca found off the West Coast of the South Island.

SAMANTHA GUZZO endured blood, guts and smell to record their work, which began at Te Papa’s research lab this week.

Dorothy, Toto and Tin Man played the Wicked Witch and Batman in central Wellington after the Sevens on Saturday night – but the games were drinking, not rugby.

The city was a riot of colour and (largely clean) fun at the conclusion of super Sevens weekend, reports KYLIE KLEIN-NIXON.

Thousands of people have jammed into Wellington for the biggest party of the year.

NewsWire’s KIMBERLEY CRAYTON-BROWN, PENELOPE SCOTT and CARL SUURMOND report on the dressing up, the parade, the teams…and, oh yeah, the rugby.

AC/DC’s first NZ concert in 14 years – staged at Westpac Stadium in Wellington – could be heard as far off as Brooklyn, Petone and Miramar. NewsWire’s KYLIE KLEIN-NIXON, PENELOPE SCOTT, KIMBERLEY CRAYTON-BROWN and VAUGHAN ELDER were among 35,000 fans.

The Government’s tertiary education revamp will cut community interest and involvement in polytechnics and institutes of technology.

LEE STACE talks to Whitireia Polytech chairman Dennis Sharman, who leads the sector’s protests to the Education Minister.

DRINKS are being spiked in Wellington bars for robbery rather than sexual assault, say some Wellington ambulance officers.

Paramedics who took a recent victim to hospital urged her to check her wallet. KARA LOK reports on recession-spurred crime.

Whitireia Journalism School’s Luke Appleby was named one of NZ’s top three journalism students at the Qantas Media Awards. He’s pictured here with head tutor Jim Tucker at the awards dinner in Wellington on Friday night.

With influenza top of mind thanks to the global swine flu alert, this winter’s flu vaccinations are proving more popular in many centres. DAVID HAYAT reports that the trend has shown up this week at Whitireia Community Polytechnic.

Wellington City declared it would be a leader in the battle against climate change but its carbon-zero goal is unrealistic, the mayor now admits.
NewsWire reporter PAUL McBETH continues his investigation.

A former banker seems like the last person to approach for advice in a credit crunch.

However, PAUL McBETH finds Kiwibank director Richard Westlake knows a thing or two about thriving rather than just surviving.

IT was drizzling in Cuba St today, but business people were far from gloomy about prospects for the Cuba St Carnival.

An expected traffic jam caused by closed streets for the carnival and a Harley rally is likely to be more of a problem than the weather.

Wellington Botanic Gardens stream was looking so murky recently tourists and children visiting the top attraction were speculating on the cause, reports JENNY MEYER.

Wellington City Council thinks someone was careless when cleaning paint brushes.

A Wellington Jewish folk band performing at the Botanical Gardens was offered extra security by Wellington City Council, which feared it might attract anti-Israel protests.

The band declined, reports LAURA FRYKBERG.

Students and staff at Whitireia Journalism School wish you a great holiday break.

We’re away for a couple weeks, but new material will continue to be posted from early January. Watch for a new blog/column on Wellington life over the summer.

Wellington City Council has approved plans to replace the Chocolate Fish cafe, including putting tables on both sides of Karaka Bay Rd.

But some of the neighbours are not happy, reports SARAH CODDINGTON.