Mercedes-Benz' outrageous AMG-tuned G-Wagen, the G63, will go on sale in NZ next year, giving militia groups and frustrated commandos as much grunt as they could possibly need.

Greg Murphy says he has given up pursuing a full-time drive for 2013. Murphy, 40, had been looking for a new team to join after Kelly Racing announced the veteran New Zealander wouldn't be part of their Nissan-bound operation next year.

A week-long police crackdown on cellphone driving offences has seen a surge in the issuing of tickets. Police dished out 790 tickets nationally during the seven-day blitz last month, pushing the November total to 1736. October's total was 1156.

Once again, it will be easier to get a speeding ticket this Christmas.

A police officer has told how he picked up the phone of a driver killed in a road crash and found a half-written text message on it.