Police defend security at Waitangi; Antonie Dixon spoke of killing himself in final weeks; health system headed for bankruptcy; employers prefer cutting worker hours to losing staff; students angry at loan repayment plan; more men training as teachers
Read MoreUncategorized
I may not be smiling, but this is a magical time
How a non-maternal soon-to-be-mum is spending the last weeks of her pregnancy
Read MoreForgotten war heats up
Military leaders in Afghanistan are dramatically re-thinking their strategies, but the ministerial briefings given to the new government reveal little planning and even less urgency
World News Brief, Thursday February 5
Over 50 civilians killed in Sri Lankan fighting; US warns North Korea on possible missile test; drought threatens Chinese wheat harvest; Taliban seize Pakistani policemen; and more
Read MoreNational News Brief, Thursday February 5
John Key defends "modest" tax package; roads tipped to dominate infrastructure spend; more power cuts in Auckland; hardline DNA gathering "draconian"; Tainui King's historic return to Waitangi; Fonterra board member named; and more
Read MoreCanada fears being frozen out of the US recovery deal
In the bleak midwinter, Canada is fighting to ensure it doesn't lose billions of dollars as a protectionist US Congress pushes forward with its 'Buy American' legislation
Read MoreWhat path is Key choosing?
John Key is finally dragging his government out of its lethargy, hinting at insulation plans and major building projects. But today's speech showed a man still wrestling with a core question: Who should pay for the crisis we're in
Read MorePlease, let's get money out of our politics
The Electoral Finance Act is up for repeal, but what will take its place?
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday February 4
Slumping Asian growth; North Korea to test-fire longest-range missile; Iran launches home-developed satellite; Zimbabwe cholera crisis worsens; Spanish unemployment up; and more
Read MoreNational News Brief Wednesday, February 4
Government rolls out $1 billion economic recovery plan; changes to RMA to ease path for homeowners; Valerie Vili wins supreme Halberg Award--again; Waitaki River flush successful, for now; John Key's cast auctioned off for charity; and more
Read MoreLondon in snow stops everything shock
A little bit of weather, and the city grinds to a halt. Pathetic, yes. But what fun
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday February 3
Little violence, low turnout in Iraqi council elections; 20m Chinese workers laid off; Israel launches air strike on Gaza; new Iceland PM promises "new social values"; and more
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National News Brief, Tuesday February 3
Boy racers "sick of being picked on", but face new laws; Bonnie and Clyde couple captured; Dr Key does "health check" on banks; "modest" minimum wage increase planned; RMA changes announced today
Read MoreNational's Neros fiddling on tax and infrastructure
Almost a full economic quarter has passed since the election, and still we're waiting for government action on the worst recession since World War II. Tax cuts are still two months away and National is cutting back on infrastructure
Read MoreDistinguishing the noise from the melody
Alex Ross has written a useful and user-friendly history of 20th century music—from an American point of view
Read MoreNational News Brief, Monday February 2
Crack down on poorly performing schools; $1 billion of Auckland projects at risk; boy racers face Collins' wrath; tax break tipped for small and medium-sized businesses; Waitangi Day to be "more welcoming"; Vegemite under threat from health police
Read MoreCanadian PM's near-death experience forces budget about-face
Canada's minority Conservative Government has survived its first budget test after prematurely proroging Parliament late last year. However PM Stephen Harper is on a tight leash
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday January 30
US House passes $800 billion stimulus package, Senate next; Chinese PM attacks "blind pursuit of profit"; Afghan presidential elections postponed; Somali MPs to elect a new leader tomorrow; and more
Read MoreNational News Brief, Friday January 30
Banks under pressure to cut mortgage "break fees"; OCR at record low, but can't stop job cuts; Otago health chair refuses to resign; Aucklanders earn 20% more; and more
Read MorePay freeze tango begins
Obama’s White House has a freeze on $100,000 plus salaries. Key’s Beehive wants no increase in MPs' salaries this year. But what kind of example are these pay-freezers setting?