Loaded weapons and a Nazi uniform were found by police at the home of a man who died following a police stand-off in Christchurch, an inquest has heard.

St Bede's College is commissioning an independent investigation into whether the school had "appropriate systems in place for identifying and addressing abuse".

At least 17 police officers were killed in Nigeria’s northeast Yobe state after suspected Islamist militants attacked a specialised military school that also trains police officers.

Alex Bennett was killed while crossing Leeston Rd to check the mail in February, and the road where the 10-year-old died is now being considered for a lower speed limit.

A National Party policy to prevent judges discounting sexual offenders' sentences due to good character is a solution for a non-existent problem, a defence lawyer says.

Less than half of five-year-olds passed new phonics tests after their first full year of schooling last year.