People waking up on a Sunday morning and hoping to have a cool dip in the water have a real cause for concern. Sam Judd looks into the pollution of our rivers.

The Maori fight against the partial sale of Mighty River Power goes to court on Tuesday after papers to block the sale were filed in the High Court at Wellington.

Finance Minister Bill English welcomes opportunity to defend sale of state-owned enterprise in court.

The Government has confirmed it will not proceed with the Waitangi Tribunal's "shares plus'' concept when it partially privatises Mighty River Power.

Auckland ratepayers are spending $13.1 million a year to pay for seven boards of directors, seven chief executives and seven executive teams who run much of the Super City.

Mighty River has lost one of two Maori directors in what appears to be fall-out from opposition to the government's plans to partially privatise SOEs.

Health warnings over Lake Tutira have been extended following the detection of higher levels of cyanobacteria by the Hawke's Bay District Health Board.

A two-and-a-half year expedition by the ship on which Sir Peter Blake was murdered continues his work under the oceans.

The Government's water rights consultation hui is not robust or long enough, according to Ngati Maniapoto leaders.

The Maori King and the Prime Minister drew the battle lines, with the former saying "Maori'' and the latter saying "No One''. Today, two legal academics explore the deep currents that lie beneath each claim.

Prime Minister John Key is unconcerned with reports iwi will boycott the first "shares plus" hui today, saying they are "more than welcome" to choose not to attend.

Today the Government meets with Tainui to start negotiations over the partial privatisation of Mighty River. Iwi interests can still be served without the unfair 'shares plus' scheme.