Given that pens have been in existence ever since a caveman picked up a charred stick, I felt not being able to find a pen anywhere was quite a significant discovery, writes Eva Bradley.

The Department of Corrections has done the right thing in stepping in and taking over private contractor Serco's management of Mt Eden Correctional Facility, writes Andrew Austin.

Linda Hall writes: Almost a hundred years later and Red Cross is still going strong in Hawke's Bay and throughout the country.

If the twin cities were in fact twins, I'd tell them to grow up, writes Mark Story.

So heartening to see a big muster braving the shocking conditions at McLean Park on Thursday. A big win at 58-7 but a mud and guts, heartland rugby at its best, writes Mark Story.

Bruce Bisset: To be clear, I am in awe of Kiri and Kevin Swannell's initiative. But what I do not support is that private citizens should have work so hard to plug gaps in our system.

Yesterday was cold enough to freeze flames in non-compliant fireplaces across the Bay - the now scarcity of which is lamentable, writes Mark Story.