Seriously injured cricketer Jesse Ryder has come out of his induced coma and is off the ventilator. Ryder's manager Aaron Klee today said that Ryder is awake and talking in Christchurch Hospital's intensive care unit.

Police are interviewing a second man they believe was involved in an attack on cricketer Jesse Ryder in Christchurch early yesterday. In a press conference this afternoon, it was revealed that Ryder gave a 'thumbs up' to his family and manager this morning, but the full impact of his head injuries will not be known until he is out of his induced coma. The 37-year-old man being questioned was related to a 20-year-old man already arrested over the incident. Police said they had reviewed CCTV footage of the incident outside a bar in Merivale. The people involved in the two attacks on Ryder were the part of the same group, police said.

Police hunting who attacked Jesse Ryder outside a Christchurch bar say they don't yet know who is behind the vicious assault but are working along "positive lines of inquiry''. The cricketer is in an induced coma in Christchurch Hospital with critical injuries - including a fractured skull and a punctured lung - after an "unprovoked'' bar attack.

Prime Minister John Key comments on discussions with Tiwai Point aluminium smelter's ultimate owners Rio Tinto and a bid to broker a deal, the attack on Black Cap Jesse Ryder, relief for the drought stricken farmers; and finally the 'golden handshake' for Solid Energy's Don Elder.

Blues coach Sir John Kirwan has made just one injury-enforced change to the starting XV for Saturday's match against the Chiefs in Mount Maunganui. "We need to get excited again and start playing high tempo, high impact game which we have not be doing."

The family of slain roadworker George Taiaroa have made an impassioned plea for information that could lead to the arrest of his killer. Mr Taiaroa, 67, was directing traffic on a remote Tram Rd in Kinleith, south Waikato, last week when he was shot by an unknown assailant driving a blue Jeep Cherokee. He died at the scene.

Cricketer Jesse Ryder is in Christchurch Hospital with injuries including a fractured skull, a punctured lung and internal bleeding after being attacked by several men in a bar early this morning. Police said they were investigating the incident at Aikman's Bar in the Christchurch suburb of Merivale after a fight broke out in the bar then spilled onto the pavement in the early hours of today.

Get road ready for Easter with Jack Daniel's Racing and stay safe on the roads. courtesy of NissanMotorsportTV

Golf gear including a bag and several clubs belonging to three members of the England cricket team has been stolen from the Auckland hotel where they were staying. Police are looking to identify a man who entered an insecure storage room at the Pullman Hotel in Auckland's Waterloo Quadrant and stole the golf clubs and gear on March 24.

The final act of a magnificent season of New Zealand surf lifesaving was played out at picturesque Waipu Cove, as the top IRB drivers, crews and patients competed in the BP Surf Rescue championships. Produced by Jamie Troughton/Dscribe Journalism. Song: Boys of Summer by The Ataris Dscribe Journalism dscribe.co.nz info@dscribe.co.nz Additional GoPro footage thanks to Sam!

Brendon McCullum and Alastair Cook post match press conferences. New Zealand has fallen painfully short of winning the third cricket test - and the series - against England, despite a dramatic finish at Eden Park this afternoon.

The 52nd annual Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach presented by Ford returns to Victoria, Australia from March 27th- April 7th, welcoming the men and women of the ASP World Championship Tour. Australian competitors Mick Fanning and Sally Fitzgibbons will be battling to defend their respective titles from the 2012 season with hopes of ringing the bell once again. The Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach serves as one of the world's oldest surfing events since its inauguration in 1962, later promoted to a professional competition in 1973. Bells Beach is known to deliver epic swell surrounded by breathtaking landscape. Watch both the men's and women's ASP WCT events LIVE on http://www.live.ripcurl.com. Footage Courtesy of Rip Curl.

This was the chance in a lifetime for the young fan. Singing with Springsteen and then a stage slide. courtesy YouTube/thelouie01

The Natural History Museum of London launched Friday its new exhibition 'Sensational Butterflies' featuring 400 live tropical butterflies.

Get road ready this Easter with Jack Daniel’s Racing Jack Daniel’s Racing drivers Rick and Todd Kelly have called for drivers to pace themselves on the roads this Easter holiday period. Fatigue is one of the major issue facing Australian drivers across the Easter break as families and friends embark on the traditional long-weekend getaway. The former Bathurst 1000 champions have also created short road safety videos to help the public get road ready this Easter. Kelly also acknowledged the importance of sharing the driving, especially on a long journey. For Todd Kelly, preparation for a long road trip is just as important as the drive itself, a fact the Nissan driver knows well through regular journeys between Melbourne and his native Mildura. For more road safety tips from Rick and Todd Kelly head to the Nissan Motorsport website or YouTube page. Follow Jack Daniel’s Racing: Web: http://www.nissanmotorsport.com.au YouTube: www.youtube.com/Nissanmotorsporttv Twitter: @Nissan_MSport Facebook: Facebook.com/NissanMotorsportAus Instagram: NissanMotorsport Rick Kelly on Twitter: @RickKelly Rick Kelly on Instagram: rickkelly15

Earthquake Commission boss Ian Simpson has offered to resign over the commission's massive privacy breach but has been told to stay on and fix up the mess.

Peter Fulton and Graham Gooch press conferences. New Zealand are within striking distance of a second home series victory in 18 attempts over England at stumps on the fourth day of the final test. England is 90 for four, chasing an improbable 481 for victory.

85kph, aesthetic, gravity-defying freefall – cliff diving is the purest extreme sport on earth and has many centuries of tradition but has never been as youthful as it will be in 2013. The average age of 27.9 years is the youngest to date and it promises to be another year of rapid evolution of one of the most breathtaking of all sports. In its fifth season, the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series will hit new waters and determine a new champion during eight challenging competitions across Europe, Asia and North and South America. Between May and October ten of the world’s best cliff divers, from seven different countries, and up to four wildcard divers per stop will launch from 27 metres with no protection besides concentration, skill and physical control. courtesy of RedBull

Police investigating the homicide of Auckland teen Jane Furlong are offering a $50,000 reward to help solve her 1993 murder. Detective Senior Sergant Mark Benefield said ' we believe this reward will help generate interest to put the last piece in place'.

They know it won't be easy, but New Zealand feel they have a chance. Talk to the New Zealand players and there's an undeniable sense that they feel they are within touching distance of what would be a notable test victory at Eden Park.

Robertson Road Primary School was given a treat today, when, Manu 'The Beast' Vatuvai was the guest at a special training session before giving a few words of inspiration to the entire school. Manu reflected on his own childhood past and told stories of how hard work & dedication to anything is the key to success.

This is an amazing ride... Wyn Masters shreds down during his seeding run at the Lyttelton Urban down hill Course in Christchurch. With a special camera set up rigged and built by EIVOMEDIA. courtesy John Colthorpe/EIVOMEDIA

ShredWest Media is a Western Australia downhill skateboarding collective that hit the public roads of New Zealand in the Coromandel recently, providing a surprise to their follow road users.

Marmite is back on store shelves today after half a million jars were delivered around the country. The breakfast spread has been missing from shops since early last year after the February 2011 earthquake damaged Sanitarium's Christchurch factory.

A 1300km race around New Zealand involving two celebrity teams representing New Zealand and Australia. Over 5 days the teams will Run, Row, Cycle and Sail their way home with national pride at stake and charity the ultimate winner. With the finish line in sight the great Kiwi and Aussie public will join in for the final run to the finish. Their timed efforts over 5km and10km will determine if New Zealand wins

If New Zealand don't arrive at Eden Park on Friday morning full of self-belief something's seriously wrong. New Zealand were expected to be at least competitive, if not better, in the T20 and ODI series, and were so. England won the deciders both times, turning it on as New Zealand turned off on both occasions. The tests were different. Few gave New Zealand a chance over the course of the three tests. World no 2 vs world No 8, after all, albeit in the lower-ranked team's back yard.

Mr Joyce also gave an update on progress with the Government's remediation plan to address issues with the school payroll system. A new dedicated Education Sector Payroll Services business unit to be established in the Education Ministry to co-ordinate the Remediation Plan.

Team New Zealand have damaged their wingsail - a hi-tech and expensive piece of machinery - in a dramatic launch incident in the Viaduct this afternoon. The incident occurred as the team were preparing to fit their wingsail to the platform of AC72 catamaran in gusty conditions. The 40m wing-sail needs to lifted into place by a crane - an extremely fraught process particularly when the wind picks up. It is believed the team lost control of the sail in the hoisting process, and the wing clipped the side of the main building of Emirates Team New Zealand's base. A spokesperson for Team New Zealand was not immediately available, but at this stage it is understood the damage is relatively minor.

William Shatner talks to Newstalk ZB's Mike Hosking about his stage show, what keeps him going, his podcast 'Brown Bag Wine Tasting', and Sky TV's new channel 'Jones!'

Black Caps captain sees 'great opportunity' to clinch series victory against England. Brendon McCullum says both tests could well have produced results, but for rain. Call it turf wars. Who would have imagined 20.12m of the stuff would be the hottest topic going to Eden Park where the test series will be decided from Friday. After the second test washout at the Basin Reserve yesterday, New Zealand are a surprise chance to win the test rubber, with the series locked up 0-0.