Christmas was a mild day for most of New Zealand, but the rest of the holiday season was a disappointment. Heavy downpours spoiled holidays in Golden Bay and the West Coast, most of the country experienced cool weather and only the East Coast/Hawkes Bay had a really satisfactory New Year's.

The Herald deliberated on the post-Yuletide options for disposing of your drooping Christmas tree. "Chop the tree up and put one piece in the wheelie bin each week until it’s gone: Apart from the fact that you’re not allowed to fill your bin with trees, won’t you feel like you’re straight out of Goodfellas or the Sopranos?"

Like our troops in Afghanistan and scientists at Scott Base, Helen Clark opted for a white Christmas, in Norway. She cut her holiday short to return home after news of the Indian Ocean tsunami, an event which she warns could happen here.

Seven Kiwis have been confirmed dead or presumed dead from the tsunami and a further 200 are still unaccounted for but thought to be safe.

After mounting political pressure to up its pledge, the Government has now promised $68 million in aid to affected countries, including $19 million to match donations from the public. This places NZ in the top ten aid donors.

Scientists are investigating a flurry of nine minor earthquakes in the lower North Island last night, but it's not thought they signify anything sinister.

Carlos Spencer avoided a court appearance after he and his 'victim' agreed that the alleged assault was in fact only a minor pub-floor disagreement.

A bitter controversy over a new postage stamp threatens to tear about the nation, as farmers lampoon the illustration of a merino ewe with large curly horns (everyone knows only the rams have horns) while the illustrator claims his right to artist licence.

And NASA scientists have chosen names from the movie Whale Rider for newly discovered landmarks on Mars. Two Martian rocks have been named Paikea (after the movie's star) and Wharenui (meeting house).

The Blacks Caps cruised to an easy seven wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the first one-dayer, however, the rest of the series was called off in the wake of the tsunami so the Sri Lankan team could return home.

After some late nights working the phones, NZ Cricket has managed to organise three matches against a star-studded World XI to replace the Sri Lankan tour and raise funds for tsunami relief.

And eyebrows went up around the country after former All Black Jeff Wilson was named in the Black Caps team to face the World XI. Wilson played for the Black Caps in the mid-nineties and declared an interest in returning to the side after leaving rugby in 2002.

In other sporting news, five Southlanders set a new group shearing record, shearing 4188 lambs in a day. Their captain feigned disappointment: "just wasn't good enough -- 4200 was there."

A home intruder in Rotorua left a note for his absent hosts, apologising for breaking in and promising to return the small amount of cash he had removed.

And a Canterbury fisherman is crediting a dolphin with saving his dog's life. The dog, swept out to sea from the Opihi river mouth, was reportedly coaxed back to shore by the dolphin.