Wellington  - A Japanese climber stranded for a week on Mount Cook, New Zealand's highest peak in its Southern Alps, was airlifted to safety by a helicopter early Friday morning, police said.

The man, who was not identifed, was described as "sick but able to walk." After the rescue, the helicopter returned to search for his climbing companion.

Wellington, Dec. 4 : Kiwi all-rounder Jacob Oram has been declared fit for international assignments, and is likely to turn out for the national side against the West Indies cricket team.

According to a New Zealand Press Association report, Oram returned to action after a month off with Central Districts in last week''s State Championship four-day match against Northern Districts and bowled a total of 36 overs.

Oram, who suffered a hairline fracture to his left index finger attempting a catch in the match, told Radio Sport that he was available for Black Caps selection.

He will play in the four-day match against Otago beginning tomorrow at Napier.

Wellington  - New Zealand's central bank slashed its benchmark interest rate on Thursday by a record 1.5 percentage points to 5 per cent and urged commercial banks to pass along the reduction to stimulate an economy in recession.

Noting that he had now cut a total of 3.25 percentage points from the official cash rate since July, Reserve Bank Governor Alan Bollard said, "We expect financial institutions to play their part in the economic adjustment process by passing on lower wholesale interest rates to their customers."

Bollard - who has now cut the rate four times since July after five years with no reductions - said that bank margins had "stayed quite high and indeed grown" and that he was easing monetary policy for a purpose.

Wellington  - Fears were rising for two Japanese climbers stranded in New Zealand's Southern Alps for a week as appalling weather ruled out another attempt to airlift them to safety on Thursday.

A bag of emergency supplies, including a radio, was dropped to the climbers, who are holed up in a tent 3,700 metres up New Zealand's highest peak Mount Cook, on Wednesday but a Conservation Department spokeswoman said it was not certain they had retrieved it.

Wellington, Dec 3 : Office Christmas parties not just bring celebrations and gaiety among workers, but also trigger infidelities among people indulging in festival pleasures, warns a Kiwi private investigator.

Private investigator Kerrie Pihema has cautioned that infidelities are "rampant'''' among staff members going to work Christmas parties this season.

Wellington, Dec 3 : Sick and tired of your incompetent personal assistant who often forgets one thing or the other? Well, then Nicole, the virtual PA, might just turn out to be your ultimate saviour.

Brainchild of Dr Tom Moir from Massey University''s School of Engineering and Advanced Technology, Nicole is a glamorous personal assistant on your desktop, who can help with tasks around the office.