Wellington  - Michael Swann, 47, was sentenced Wednesday to nine years and six months in prison for New Zealand's biggest-ever fraud by a worker on his employer, news reports said.

Swann was found guilty in December in the Dunedin High Court of embezzling 17 million New Zealand dollars (8.5 million US dollars) over six years while working as chief information officer of the Otago District Health Board.

Wellington  - The New Zealand government on Wednesday announced a scheme to pay workers to take one day off every two weeks to save them from the threat of losing their jobs in the current recession.

Under the scheme, workers and their bosses in New Zealand's largest companies that are suffering in the economic downturn will negotiate voluntary agreements to cut their hours, Prime Minister John Key told a news conference.

Wellington, Mar 9 : After scoring a majestic 163 in Christchurch and helping India to take a 2-0 series lead over New Zealand, batting superstar Sachin Tendulkar is doubtful for fourth ODI to be played in Hamilton on Wednesday.

The "Little Master" retired hurt with an abdominal injury that left him a doubtful starter at Seddon Park.

The record holder for most one-day and test runs was to have the injury examined today, but may be rested for the fourth match in the five-game ODI series, the Waikato Times reported.

Welington, Mar. 8 : New Zealand all-rounder Scott Styris has refuted speculations of staging a comeback in Test cricket.

Stryris, who retired from the longer version of the game a year ago to focus more on one-day internationals and Twenty-20 cricket said he has no plans of putting on the whites once again.

"I''m not interested in playing Test cricket. I''ve closed that door and now I''m just looking forward to playing for Auckland and the great bunch of guys we have here," Stuff. com quoted Styris, as saying.

Wellington  - New Zealand's conservative government is restoring the traditional titles of Sir and Dame for men and women honoured by Queen Elizabeth, who remains head of state of the one-time British colony, Prime Minister John Key announced on Sunday.

The titles were abolished nine years ago by the former Labour government headed by Helen Clark, who dubbed them "quaint trappings" of the independent country's past.

Wellington, Mar. 7 : Former New Zealand wicketkeeper, Adam Parore has strongly recommended that the 2011 cricket World Cup should be moved out from sub-continent amidst the precarious security condition in the region.

Parore, in his column in The New Zealand Herald, said that the terror attack on the Sri Lankan cricketers in Lahore has proved that the region is not safe for foreign teams.