Wellington, Feb 2: Archaeologists have found over 50 ancient rock engravings in Tonga, which may shed some light on the pre-Polynesian Lapita peoples who voyaged across the Pacific.

The petroglyphs, including stylised images of people and animals, were found emerging from beach sand at the northern end of Foa Island, late last year, the Matangi Tonga newspaper reported.

Artist Shane Egan called in archaeologist Professor David Burley, from the Simon Fraser University in Canada, to investigate and document the site.

Perth, Jan. 31 : New Zealand cricket skipper Daniel Vettori believes Australia''s aura has been washed away following a spate of retirements.

On the eve of the one-day series between the two nations, which kicks off at the WACA Ground on Sunday, Vettori said it was less daunting facing up to Australia since the retirement of Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden.

Wellington, Jan 31: Love can last forever, claims an Otago University professor, who found that adoration consistently improves with age.

According to Amanda Barusch, who teaches social work and community development, twilight love brings lifestyle changes.

To reach the `eternal' conclusion, the professor investigated love and romance among baby boomers aged over 50.

Professor Barusch found that the people she surveyed "consistently reported that love improved with age," the Salt Lake City Tribune reported.

She found a wide range of romantic experience when she interviewed 91 people aged 51 to 97 - most of them widowed, but also including married couples and divorcees, reports the NZPA.

Wellington, Jan 30: Using an advanced method of facial reconstruction, a team of researchers at the Otago University in New Zealand, has revealed the face of an Egyptian aristocrat, dating back to 2,000 years.

The 35-year-old female aristocrat has been part of the Otago Museum's collection for more than a century.

The facial reconstruction of the mummy is the result of over a year's work by a team from Otago University and they are confident that their modern day model is extremely accurate.

"I would say if somebody from that era comes and sees this reconstruction, I would say they would recognise her," said Dr George Dias from Otago University's Adanatomy Department.

Wellington  - An escape bid by two New Zealand prisoners handcuffed together came to grief when each ran either side of a lamp-post, news reports said on Friday.

The pair made a break for freedom as police escorted them from the Hastings District Court. They had not gotten far when they swung around the pole and collided with each other before collapsing in a tangle.

Each blamed the other for their actions, the Dominion Post reported.

Wellington  - New Zealand's central bank slashed its benchmark interest rate Thursday by 1.5 per cent to 3.5 per cent, the lowest figure since the so-called official cash rate (OCR) was introduced in 1999.

It was the fifth time Reserve Bank governor Alan Bollard has cut the rate since July after keeping it at 8.25 per cent - one of the highest rates in the developed world - for 12 months in a bid to contain inflation.