Wellington  - A New Zealand judge told a teenage girl who turned up in court to face a drunk-driving charge wearing a T-Shirt proclaiming she was "Miss Wasted" to go home and change, news reports said on Thursday.

When Keisha Lee Kubala, 18, returned to the Gore District Court on Wednesday, she pleaded guilty to driving with a breath-alcohol level of 349 micrograms, more than double the legal limit of 150 mcg for a driver under the age of 20.

Wellington, Dec. 10 : Umpiring controversies should be kept at a minimum when the first cricket test between New Zealand and West Indies begins Thursday, says New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori.

The countries'' two-match series is the second on the international calendar to be part of a trial enabling players to appeal decisions.

Rival captains Daniel Vettori and Chris Gayle have the power to refer rejected appeals to the third umpire for his assessment. Batsmen can also ask for a second opinion when they are given out.

Wellington, Dec 10 : Kiwis laid off in the current recession have been offered a new job – testing a sex toy for international condom manufacturer Durex.

Kiwis can apply by visiting www. durextester. co. nz. Applications for this dream job are open until 21 January 2009 and applicants, who must be aged 16 or over, should explain why they are suitable for the job, reports the NZPA.

It does not pay but successful applicants for the 100 ‘sexexcutive’ jobs at Durex will receive a free vibrating sex toy, worth about 25 dollars, to trial.

Wellington, Dec 10 : ‘Closeness’ and ‘intimacy’ are the most valuable things in the sex lives of men, according to a global study.

The survey involved more than 1,000 committed couples aged in mid-life or older, from the US, Spain, Japan, Germany and Brazil, reports the NZPA.

They were asked about the importance of their relationship, sexual behaviour and also the role sex played independently in the health and life satisfaction of the men and women.

Men returned stereotype-busting results on the question of what they derived from sex.

"Partnered sexual activity is important to men and women across all countries," the study said.

Wellington  - New Zealand's newly elected conservative minority government ran into conflict with its indigenous Maori Party supporters Wednesday as it tried to push one of its first pieces of legislation through parliament.

Prime Minister John Key's National Party-led government - sworn in only a week ago - declared that a law change which will allow employers to sack workers in their first 90 days on the job was a priority which it wanted passed before Christmas.

The five Maori Party members of parliament, who promised with two other parties to support the Nationals after they failed to win an overall majority in last month's election, decided Wednesday to vote against the move.