The mother of a man allegedly assaulted by new All Black "superman" Rene Ranger is stunned he has been picked to play in tonight's test.

A New Zealander charged with the brutal bashing of an Irish backpacker in Sydney was remanded in custody when the court process finally began today.

A New Zealand man has arrived in Sydney to face court over an attack that left an Irish backpacker with brain damage.

Actor Rob Mokaraka has been sentenced to 400 hours of community work and supervision after an incident at his Auckland home last year.

A policeman armed himself to protect others while bleeding from a gunshot wound that almost killed him.

A retired policeman has come forward as the good Samaritan police were seeking in relation to events surrounding the murder of Donald Stewart.

Police are searching the area where dairy farmer Scott Guy was shot in an effort to find the gun used to kill him.

Rower Rob Hamill hopes to meet the Khmer Rouge henchman who ran the prison where his brother Kerry was tortured and killed.

Veteran police dog handler Bruce Lamb is still managing to maintain his sense of humour, despite losing his 'best friend'.

A 28-year-old North Shore man has appeared in court over the murder of Jacqueline Blackbourn in a house fire last month.

A third police officer tried to taser a man accused of shooting two Christchurch constables yesterday.