RALLYING: Hirvonen setting the pace
Mikko Hirvonen leads Rally New Zealand by 27.8 seconds after the opening day.
The Ford driver's world championship title rival Sebastien Loeb is second but collected a 30-second penalty having begun stage six three minutes late because of engine problems.
It means Finn Hirvonen is likely to be first on the road on day two, though Frenchman Loeb emphatically denied he had been playing a tactical game.
Rally New Zealand, Day 1
| Standings after stage seven | | | | |
| 1 | M Hirvonen | Fin | Ford | 1m34.44.3s |
| 2 | S Loeb | Fra | Citroen | 1:35.12.1 |
| 3 | D Sordo | Spn | Citroen | 1:35.14.3 |
| 4 | J-M Latvala | Fin | Ford | 1:35.14.4 |
| 5 | F Duval | Fra | Ford | 1:36.12.2 |
| 6 | U Aava | Est | Citroen | 1:36.45.6 |
| 7 | P Solberg | Nor | Subaru | 1:37.10.1 |
| 8 | P-G And'son | Swe | Suzuki | 1:37.34.8 |
| 9 | T G'meister | Fin | Suzuki | 1:38.32.3 |
| 10 | F Villagra | Arg | Ford | 1:39.31.8 |
| 37 | M Wilson | GB | Ford | 1:51.27.4 |
Rally New Zealand, Day 1 | Thursday/Friday | Winner |
| SS1 Pirongia West I | Latvala |
| SS2 Waitomo I (1) | Hirvonen |
| SS3 Waitomo I (2) | Hirvonen |
| SS4 Priongia West II | Loeb |
| SS5 Waitomo II (1) | Loeb |
| SS6 Waitomo II (2) | Loeb |
| SS7 Mystery Creek I | Hirvonen |
Rally New Zealand, Day 2 | Friday/Saturday | | Start |
| SS8 Port Waikato | | 2108 |
| SS9 Possum | | 2146 |
| SS10 Franklin | | 2224 |
| SS11 Mystery Creek | II | 0037 |
| SS12 Te Akau South | | 0303 |
| SS13 Te Akau North | | 0346 |
Rally New Zealand, Day 3 | Saturday/Sunday | | Start |
| SS14 Te Hutewai I | | 2123 |
| SS15 Whaanga Coast | I | 2151 |
| SS16 Te Hutewai II | | 2328 |
| SS17 Whaanga Coast | II | 2356 |
| SS18 Mystery Creek | III | 0200 |