The headline on the government’s press release politely says ‘‘Councils invited to fast-track local reform’’, but it is an invitation they will find hard to refuse.

Yesterday, under the blue skies and in the bright sunshine of a perfect Otago morning, Dunedin bade farewell to the Band of the 93rd (Argyll and Sutherland) Highlanders.

Nelson, May 4: A tornado confining itself to a narrow path struck a portion of the city last night about 10 o’clock, and left in its wake considerable destruction to property.