Te Kuiti hosts a yearly carnival, including a 'running of the sheep' down the main street, and a shearing competition where champion shearers are put through their paces.

Manu Caddie is in his first term as a Gisborne District Councillor, but he's also involved in a voluntary capacity in organisations addressing matters as wide-ranging as social services, anti-violence initiatives, cycling and housing.

Phillip Xiao is training in China in pursuit of his table tennis dream.

Our last Kiwi summer competition was a doozy on Friday, thanks so much for your weather related similies, we were impressed!

Our blogger is a political animal, who dishes up a healthy serving of satire on the side. Danyl McLauchlan writes at 'dimpost.wordpress.com'.

The Sunday Star Times reports that from 2009 to last year the number of female prisoners increased by 27 per cent. Social anthropologist Dr Donna Swift has been studying trends surrounding violence by women, particularly young women, which she says has been glorified as something tough and cool.

Advocacy manager for Barnardoes New Zealand, Deborah Morris-Travers, discusses what can be done to better protect New Zealand's children.

Many people are terrified at the thought of speaking in public, but Toastmasters clubs give their members the opportunity to gain confidence and practice their public speaking skills. Lynn goes along to the Wellington Professional Toastmasters Club to find out more.

Unknown Mortal Orchestra were very briefly an unknown quantity, until the band's first track went viral. Ruban Nielson speaks candidly about the secrets to his success.

The Sugar Loaf Islands and Paritutu are the remnants of an enormous volcano - the oldest in Taranaki.