MEGA CROSSWORD

When completed, the shaded letters will reveal a well-known personality (see mystery clue below).

MYSTERY CLUE

30ac & 41ac Politician (5,5)

ACROSS

9 Tradesperson (7)

10 Opponent (5)

11 Cautious (7)

14 Common mineral (6)

15 Ill-mannered (7)

16 Popular food fish (6)

17 Unhygienic cinema (7)

18 Exhaust (4)

19 Water grass (4)

22 Short holiday (7)

23 Build-up, obstruction (6)

25 Ballerina’s skirt (4)

28 Faithlessness, treachery (7)

30 See Mystery Clue (5)

31 Caustic, as of criticism (7)

34 Dick …, NZ pop artist (8)

36 Out-of-doors (8)

37 Beer (3)

39 To be suspicious (5,1,3)

41 See Mystery Clue (5)

42 Record material (5)

45 Rap, hit (5)

47 Organ of thought (5)

48 Observant (9)

52 Parched (3)

53 Rebound

(of a bullet) (8)

54 Study of God (8)

57 Illness (7)

58 Drying cloth (5)

59 Five-o’clock shadow (7)

61 Vehicle for hire (4)

62 Arabian chief (6)

63 Mount Ruapehu, for example (7)

66 From Bangkok, for example (4)

68 Move slowly (4)

70 Supreme or perfect (7)

73 Garden vegetable (6)

75 Chook (7)

76 Dave …, singersongwriter (6)

77 Pudding (7)

78 Apple drink (5) 79 Relating to the stars (7)

DOWN

1 Land of the Long White …, New Zealand (5)

2 Parasol (8)

3 & 50dn 30 Across’ political party (3,7,5)

4 Sorceress (5)

5 Instincts or inherent tendencies directing conduct (6)

6 Holiday home (4)

7 Measure of heat (11)

8 Fasten, as of a belt (6)

12 Hot and damp (5)

13 Beat (6)

20 Old method of sending a message (8)

21 Rash person (7)

24 Takeaways (4,4)

26 See upper-right photo (7)

27 Sporting field (5)

29 Turkish felt cap (3)

32 Place for hanging coats (9)

33 Intimate meeting (4-1-4)

35 Dash, impetuous ardour (4)

38 Toothpaste flavour (4)

40 Good fortune (4)

43 See lower-left photo (8)

44 Unit of inheritance (4)

46 Ultimate state of Buddhism (7)

49 Watchful (8)

50 See 3 Down (5)

51 Type of bacon (7)

55 Scientist’s place of work (abbrev) (3)

56 District of the Wellington region (6,5)

60 Cave-dweller (10)

62 Whipping rod (6)

64 John …, TV journalist (8)

65 Hilarious (5)

67 Punctuation mark (6)

69 Critical time (6)

71 Winter sportsperson (5)

72 Minor road (5)

74 Ripped (4)

SOLUTION NEXT WEEK