Kiribati authorities have confirmed a small canoe found in the Pacific Ocean was that which six young people were in when they were swept away.

A RNZAF Orion has failed to find any sign of six young people missing in a small craft in the Pacific.

A Royal New Zealand Air Force Orion, sent to Kiribati yesterday to help in the search for six young people missing since Friday, will continue its search today.

A Takapuna-born nurse, 30, will attend Friday's ceremony with her husband, a flight lieutenant in Prince William's squadron.

The Prime Minister has been accused of inappropriately "commandeering" the air force to get to photo opportunities and exclusive events after using an Air Force Iroquois to get to the V8s in Hamilton and back to Auckland.

New Zealanders who risked their lives to save others have been recognised at the New Zealand Search and Rescue Awards.

Air NZ is prolonging an offer of "compassionate" discount fares to and from Christchurch as Qantas faces criticism for sticking with normal pricing.

The air force's 17 mothballed Skyhawk jet fighters look likely to end up as museum pieces or spare parts after a Christmas deadline passed with no sign of any money from the American buyer.

When his father was diagnosed with terminal cancer this week, Squadron Leader Steve Hall was determined to make it home from Afghanistan.