For months the party and its leader have been riding a wave of popularity but tonight's poll shows New Zealand First slipping back four points to 25%.

National is still in front, up six to 41.

Labour, whose bitter leadership wrangles might have lost it votes, is actually up 1% although still low on 16.

The Alliance loses another two and drops to nine.

Winston Peters' personal popularity also takes a dip although he is still preferred Prime Minister at 26%. Jim Bolger moves up two to 24% and Mike Moore jumps six points to 8%. Helen Clark is up three to seven and Jim Anderton, once the most popular politician in the country, now lags behind on six.

But before the case ended the man suing Mr. Peters raised his damages claim from $50,000 to $200,000. That follows a decision by Mr. Peters not to defend the case after the judge ruled that statements made in Parliament could be used in evidence and as a result of a four-year delay before the case came to court.

A lawyer for Mr. Selwyn Cushing said it is unbelievable that a leader of a political party could make serious allegations and then not turn up to support them.

Mr. Peters' lawyer says the increased damages claim is nothing less than scurrilous.

Sixty-two-year old Mr. Reid was found bashed to death in his St Heliers home in March.

During the investigation police closed part of the city's southern motorway looking for clues.

The man was charged with murder and will remain in custody until the case comes to court.

New Plymouth and Rotorua airports were shut down

Met Service says wind shift to the north will continue and Taranaki, Wanganui, and Taihape could see some ash.

There has been sporadic volcanic activity today.

Earlier Eruption Pictures

Horizon Pacific, runs stations in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin and was set up by TVNZ.

Chief Executive Trevor Egerton says each station's local news couldn't compete with Holmes and Shortland Street. Current affairs chat shows will replace the news programmes. .

Labour's Paul Swain accused Fletcher Homes of shredding documents related to the alleged over-valuations.

Mr. Swain quoted from a letter from the Housing Corporation to its lawyers about alleged over-valuation of an Auckland property. He said the letter said the Fletcher's file had been requested but the corporation was told Fletchers believed it had been destroyed.

Fletcher Homes says it hasn't shredded the documents and it has the file referred to. The company wants Mr. Swain to repeat his comments outside the House.

Boat owners and oystermen have all but settled their differences after long meetings.

Until now only five boats have put to sea. Another nine should join them in a day or two.

It's an electronic smart card which allows customers to load up electronic money from their bank accounts through a modified telephone.

Five different currencies can be loaded and then the user can use the card as cash.

There is no further link with the bank and purchases are debited from the card.

Third formers will be without teachers on Friday - fifth formers will be asked to stay home on Monday, senior pupils on Tuesday, and next Wednesday and Thursday, teachers themselves will stay home.

Thursday's action is expected to close most schools.

Secondary teachers will be back in front of their classrooms next Friday which is the final day of term.