By HUNT, Tom LIGHT FANTASTIC Fibre-optic cables are strands of glass about the thickness of a human hair that light is sent through, rather than a metal cable that transmits electrical pulses. Central Nelson's fibre- optic cable is made up of 144 strands.

Geoff Rennison reckons by naming his series of revue nights The Free- Range Organic Carbon-Neutral Revue, he will attract as wide a spectrum of an audience as possible.

It was a pupil's dream and parent's nightmare - the sudden announcement of no school yesterday. More than 500 Golden Bay pupils were given the day off school after a fault cut power at 6.49am to 2281 customers in Takaka, including four schools.

By AND, Simon Bloomberg The long, hot summer may have benefited fruit growers around the Nelson region but it has been bad news for another key primary producer with the warm conditions reducing production in many of the marine farms in the top of the South Island.

By GALE, Hayley Golden Bay singer-songwriter Tina Bridgman's new album is a testament to her remarkable courage as well as her musical talent. When she lost her left hand in a car crash on the icy morning of July 12, 2004, Bridgman feared she'd never be able to play the guitar again.