Wellington  - New Zealander Nadya Vessey, who lost her legs in a childhood illness, now swims like a mermaid - thanks to Oscar-winning movie special effects wizards Weta Workshop, according to news reports on Wednesday.

The workshop, which won Oscars for their effects on The Lord of the Rings trilogy, made a mermaid wetsuit for her, complete with fishtail, which she tested in a Wellington pool.

Christchurch (New Zealand), Feb. 24 : Skippers of the Indian and New Zealand cricket teams on Tuesday opted to keep their cards close to their chests ahead of the first of two Twenty20 matches, which is to be played on Wednesday night at Christchurch''s AMI Stadium.

Addressing news conferences at separate venues, both Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Daniel Vettori said that neither of the two sides could be written off, as both had come off performing well against Sri Lanka and Australia recently. Both acknowledged that playing conditions could have a deciding impact on the matches to be played.

Wellington - The New Zealand Army will maintain its 140-strong provincial reconstruction team in Afghanistan until at least September 2010, Prime Minister John Key announced on Tuesday.

Wellington (dpa) - The New Zealand Army will maintain its 140-strong provincial reconstruction team in Afghanistan until at least September 2010, Prime Minister John Key announced on Tuesday.

Key, whose centre-right government came to power in November, said he would extend the commitment of the previous Labour administration because the situation in Afghanistan required an ongoing international programme of security and development assistance.

Wellington  - The New

Wellington  - Representatives of New Zealand's recording industry and internet service providers are negotiating a compromise copyright agreement after the government postponed a controversial new law, according to news reports on Tuesday.

The law, which instructs internet service providers to block online access to anyone accused of repeatedly flouting copyright by illegally downloading films and music, whether they have been convicted or not, was to have taken effect on Saturday.