Top Stories for Wednesday 31 August 2011

EQC coffers bare so govt would bear full brunt of any other disaster;Australia blocks NZ apple shipment;MAF reacts to Australia apple quarantine;IRB chief drumming up support for RWC ticket sales;England World Cup rugby team arrives in Auckland;Whangarei mother lost son to Meningococcal after misdiagnosis at same clinic; Downtown and waterfront transformation for Auckland;Polytechnic bosses attack tutors' nine week holiday;Ultimatum given to Gaddafi loyalists: surrender by Saturday.