New Zealand Herald     Subscribe | Digital replica of paper   •  Free news headlines via email •  Herald reader-offers store     search by article search by subject     Saturday December 31, 2005     Jobs  |  Real Estate  |  Motoring  |  Ad Listings  |  Watch  |  Advertise  |  Contacts        News National News World News Business Sport Technology & Science Opinion Money Motoring Property Employment Weather     Lifestyle & Leisure TV Music & Film Food & Wine Fashion & Beauty Arts & Literature Health & Fitness Travel Games Sudoku Crosswords Horoscopes Ringtones & txt   Site Explorer   Ad Listings Employment Rental Property Residential Property Lifestyle Properties Feature Properties Rural Property Farms Businesses Investment Property To Let or Lease Motoring Public Notices Death Notices Birth Notices Family Notices For Sale/Wanted Boating/Marine Trade Services Leisure & Travel Dating Adult Entertainment         Reader Services Subscription Services Back Issues Letters to the Editor Schools & Students Sponsorships Reader Panel Feedback FAQ / Site Help News via Email XML Newsfeeds News to a PDA Promotions Competitions Photo Sales APN sites Careers at APN Make nzherald.co.nz your Homepage         Herald on Sunday           Martina Hingis smiles during a practice session in preparation for next week's Australian Women's Hardcourts at the Royal Pines Resort. Jonathan Wood / Getty Images We missed you , Swiss Miss ? Australian firefighters brace for the worst ? A statewide fire ban is in place today as NSW firefighters brace for a New Year's weekend of extreme conditions. About 500 firefighters are currently containing 20 fires across NSW,...   Noise makers given an amnesty for tonight ? Auckland authorities are giving residents a chance to have a good time this New Years eve. The Auckland...   Paihia is 'party central' ? There is virtually no accommodation left in Paihia thanks to the estimated 20,000 people visiting the...   British hostages freed in Gaza strip ? Three British hostages were released in the Gaza Strip this morning (NZ time), two days after they were...   Woman dies after Christmas Day crash, toll up to 16 ? The holiday road toll has risen to 16 with the death of a second person injured in a Christmas Day crash...     National News       Thousands flock to Rhythm & Vines ? Around 10,000 party goers are flocking to the outskirts of Gisborne to start partying for the New Year. The gates are now open for the Rhythm and Vines festival at Waiohika estate....   • Holiday makers rescued from sea ?   • Email delays far from over for ISP ?   • New Year Honours: Stacey Jones receives a parting gift ?   More National News...   World News       Egyptian police end protest, 23 Sudanese dead ? CAIRO - Egyptian riot police today stormed a protest camp in Cairo set up by thousands of Sudanese refugees, sparking clashes that left 23 Sudanese dead, officials and witnesses said....   • Bush signs 5-week extension of anti-terrorism law ?   • Eastwood to tackle new Iwo Jima movie ?   • Berlusconi suspected of bribery ?   More World News...   Business       New Year Honours: Ralph Norris a crucial leader in a crisis ? As a one-time chairman of the Business Roundtable, Ralph Norris was genuinely surprised to make the New Year Honours under the prese