Player dodges conviction
A Blues rugby star tipped to be a future All Black has dodged a conviction for drink driving because a judge believed it would impede his 'stellar career'.
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Leading Headlines
Parking fee stoush: Fines 'unlawful'
Lawyers say fines levied by a private car park provider aren't legal, after a Dunedin woman slammed a $65 fee for returning to her car 11mins late.
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$14k of P allegedly pulled from undies
A gang member in Northland was arrested after allegedly pulling a bag of methamphetamine out of his undies and flinging it into the bush during a police stop.
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Key has 'forgotten where he came from'
John Key grew up in a state house in Christchurch, and many residents of his old street say they're disappointed at his plans for state houses.
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Michelle Obama's Saudi controversy
Saudi officials deny they blurred out US First Lady Michelle Obama, but her decision not to wear a headscarf, and don blue, not black at the late King's funeral, is…
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City boss facing jail for tax dodge
After months of maintaining his innocence ex-Heart of the City boss Alex Swney phoned his parents to say he was going to plead guilty to nearly $1.8m in tax evasion.
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Opinion: Will this ad make kids smoke?
Neo-Nazis tricked into anti-racism march
When 500 German anti-Islamisation protestors in Germany were given free banners and stickers, they accepted. But activists had lured them into a trap.
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OCR left unchanged at 3.5 per cent
Reserve Bank Governor Graeme Wheeler has left the official cash rate unchanged this morning at 3.5 per cent, and says that won't change for a while.
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Opinion: Do the decent thing by Bain
Mike Hosking on why he believes we owe David Bain: 'He was found not guilty after being inside for 13 of the most potentially fruitful and productive years of his life'…
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Doctor details spy's 'dangerous' autopsy
The body of ex-KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko was so radioactive that his post-mortem was "one of the most dangerous" ever undertaken.
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Banks faces retrial over electoral return
Former Act Party leader John Banks will face a retrial for filing a false electoral return, Solicitor-General Mike Heron, QC, has confirmed.
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Latest
News
Editors' Picks
Murdoch: Tweet drunk? Not me
Pregnant Love used heroin
Don't worry, Barbie's not dead
Pilot's bike idea flies the globe
Jetpack inventor dies
Sideswipe: A Little similar?
Sean Plunket Flats
How rents changed near you
Quizzes
Herald daily quiz: January 29
National
Housing affordability fell 14 per cent last year
Housing affordability across New Zealand fell 14 percent in the year ending November 2014, with Auckland's lack of affordability…
Heat hampers Arthur's Pass fire fight
Efforts to contain a large scrub fire which ripped through more than 300ha at Arthurs Pass this week may take longer than initially anticipated, after rising temperatures…
'One of those people everybody liked'
Man attacked, robbed in central Wellington
Business
Briscoe Group sales up despite tough conditions
Briscoe Group, which operates the Briscoes, Rebel Sports, and Living & Giving chains, said sales rose 2.9 percent to $167.4…
Kiwi dollar tumbles on RBNZ statement
The New Zealand dollar tumbled to the lowest in almost four years and swap rates fell after the Reserve Bank dropped its tightening bias, saying it could raise or cut…
Fallow: Reserve Bank does right thing
It is a relief the Reserve Bank has moved to a neutral stance in its statement this morning, saying it expects to keep the official cash rate on hold (at 3.5 per cent)…
4CommentsFarmers fear rough ride coming up
Farmers are "battening down the hatches" as they prepare for a low dairy payout this year and as a full-scale drought approaches South Canterbury and North Otago.
World
Israel: Hezbollah to pay 'full price' for attack
Israel has warned Hezbollah it will pay the "full price" after missiles killed two soldiers, raising fears of an all-out…
Raw: Tel Aviv bus attacker fleeing scene
Video
Vigil for condemned drug traffickers
Supporters are preparing a candelight vigil in Sydney as hopes fade the Bali Nine duo will escape an Indonesian firing squad.
Fugitive treasure hunter arrested
Inquest into Sydney siege opens today
Politics
John Armstrong: 'Market' swept under social housing rug
It is difficult to erase the suspicion that the policy is motivated by ideology as much as anything else, writes John Armstrong…
10CommentsDita De Boni: Key rocks on with trickle-down groupies
It's a meeting so prestigious, Prince Andrew himself is invited to attend.
2CommentsClaire Trevett: Irish builders, burqas, tall poppies? Yep, still mad
Any hopes that this year will be less barking mad than last year on the political front are rapidly diminishing.
1CommentsLen Brown joins house-hunting fray
Len Brown and his wife Shan Inglis have sold their big South Auckland home and are now getting first-hand knowledge of the city's pressure-cooker house market.
Life & Style
'Snail facials' slip in to spas (+video)
The fact that this latest addition to the global beauty and wellness craze "snail facials" should surface in the hills of…
Snail therapy slides into Thailand spas
Video
Crying guys - why the taboo?
When I cried in public, I refused to hide it - not at funerals, not at the movies when the house lights came up...
Future Auckland: Health and well-being
Snail therapy slides into Thailand spas
VideoVideo
Video
Pakistani teachers get gun training
Teachers in northwest Pakistan are being given firearms training and will be allowed to take guns into the classroom in…
Pakistani airstrikes kill 35 militants in tribal region
Video
Jordan ready to swap inmate for pilot
Jordan says it is willing to swap an Iraqi woman on death row for a Jordanian pilot captured by the Islamic State group. A purported message from the extremists threatens…
Government's new social housing plan
VideoLittle's big speech focuses on jobs
VideoEntertainment
Former Dr Who - there should never be a female Dr
A former Doctor Who actor says a woman should never fill the role but he's OK if the time lord's ethnicity changes.
Doctors and monsters in Dr Who musical tribute
Interview: Paul Simon and Sting
Paul Simon and Sting talk to Russell Baillie about the pair's joint tour that lands in Auckland tomorrow night and New Plymouth on Saturday.
Did anyone miss the Big Day Out?
5CommentsMeet the new Kriss Kross
1CommentsTravel
Flight check: New York to Los Angeles on United
Winston Aldworth flies UA1507 across the USA.
Flight check: Auckland to Vancouver on Air NZ
Donna McIntyre: Online bookings all about trust
It's buyer beware when booking over the internet, says Donna McIntyre, but travel agents can get it wrong, too.
Five ways to keep safe travelling
Florida: The best of St Petersburg
Opinion
Key's lost opportunity
State of the Nation speeches, so called, are really about the state of the government or the party in opposition at the…
18CommentsEditorial: Summer no time for hot cross buns
Sam Judd: Carbon crop crisis
History has shown us time and again that the point of chaos arrives in society when people have nothing to eat or feed their families. While this may conjure images…
17CommentsHow Pirates killed Johnny Depp's career
2CommentsHeather Shotter: We cannot afford to delay centre
30CommentsSport
McCullum likely to sit out today
New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum is expected to be rested from today's final one-day international against Sri Lanka…
Cricket: Newbies plus for Stags says Malan
Tennis: Novak Djokovic 'ready for the fight' after cruising into semi-final
Four-time winner Novak Djokovic says he's ready for the fight as he squares off against Australian Open defending champion Stan Wawrinka in the semi-finals. Djokovic…
