Prime Minister Bill English earned the first major victory of election year today.

Kopere Downs has been a shearer for 20 years, and now he's reached a major milestone. He has shorn his millionth sheep. Made with funding from NZ On Air.

His father Desi sheared 2.25 million sheep over 50 years, and son Kopere Downs reached his first million on a farm near Taihape.

A record number of entrants were hanging on for dear life as horses kicked and bulls bucked at the Wairoa A&P Show rodeo. The rodeo

Three shearers from different corners of the country have smashed a world shearing record - 1611 strongwool ewes between them in just eight hours. Made with funding from NZ On Air.

Kiwi Matt Smith raised the benchmark shearing 731 ewes in nine hours.

Watch NZH focus: A 84-year-old priest in northern France has been killed and four other people were taken hostage by two armed men who stormed his church. A Kiwi has smashed the world sheep shearing record in England, Matt Smith, averaged 81 sheep an hour. And Pokemon takes India by storm.

NO SUPPRESSION ORDERS A victim who received a roll of tape instead of the shearing tool he paid $700 for will be paid back. Gregory

A shearer has been awarded $2250 for being punched in the face by his boss after swearing at his wife.