Updated 13 min ago
Mayor's spend up revealed
Len Brown used his council phone to make 1373 personal calls and texts to Bevan Chuang and failed to declare more than $39,000 in free hotel rooms and upgrades.
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Leading Headlines
'Blood money' offer a bad look - Key
The offer of money made to the Pike River families by the mine's former boss doesn't look good, Prime Minister John Key says.
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Car thief jailed for abandoning baby
A man who abandoned an 11-month-old boy alone on the side of a Southland highway after stealing a car has been jailed for 12 months.
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Race-based manslaughter appeal fails
A man convicted for the manslaughter of a 15-year-old boy has failed to get his sentence reduced on the grounds of his Maori heritage.
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Doco shows 'mummy's boy' attack
A 'spoilt, jealous mummy's boy' who throttled his model girlfriend before his parents tried to cover it up smashed his victim's head against a table in the 24 hours…
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Criminal's smoke break getaway
A dangerous criminal escaped custody at the Dunedin Central police station while outside on a smoking break, police have confirmed.
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SAS soldier can keep army job
An SAS soldier has been fined $4700 at a court martial in Auckland this afternoon for stealing service property, but can remain in the Army.
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Politics: From WhaleOil to PM's office
Politics blogger Bryce Edwards rounds up reaction to the news that the Prime Minister's press secretary Jason Ede sent photos to WhaleOil.
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Kim Jong Un's uncle executed
North Korea has announced the execution of Kim Jong Un's uncle, calling the leader's former mentor a traitor who tried to overthrow the state.
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Fox host: 'Jesus was a white man'
A Fox News presenter has told viewers it is a 'fact' that both Jesus and Santa Claus are white.
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Ex-wife: 'I've never been so frightened'
A man accused of shooting his ex-wife in the head during a domestic dispute has been sentenced to 10 and a half years in prison.
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Massive data leak hits motorists
Wellington City Council has admitted personal details of up to 120,000 people were inadvertently released by its parking contractor.
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Police fear more victims of officer
A former St John Ambulance officer, facing several sex crimes charges, may have other victims who have not yet come forward, police believe.
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New Zealander of the Year
Jamie Curry - teen internet sensation
Her social media followings outnumber NZ's population by 2 million, and she hasn't even finished high school.
Hannah O'Neill - pirouetting to Paris
Most Kiwis have probably not heard of Hannah O'Neill. The 20-year-old is one of the brightest young stars in the ballet world, who also happens to be a Kiwi.
Opinion
School strategy scores F for fail'
These days, no 7-year-old's report can be understood by a 7-year-old, writes Dita De Boni. Nor by his 41-year-old, tertiary-educated mother.
11CommentsGST for online sales? My response
Accountant Steve Waite reacts to the criticism from his original post which calls for GST on online purchases. "I suppose it was always going to be a 'big ask' for the…
89CommentsLatest
News
Live Scoreboard
Windies go five down
Editor's Picks
Top matches of 2013 - 6
Top five: Everything on TV
Cameron chided over Nigella
Missing nuts upset Queen
Top 3 tweets of 2013
Lewis 'hugely embarrassed'
Friday Playlist
Sounds of summer (+audio)
The Diary
Tamihere calls it quits
Video Pick
Video
Story of Christmas: Prequel
Cartoon
Cartoon: Pike River
Sideswipe
Dec 13: Affordable Orakei
Quizzes
Herald daily quiz: December 13
National
Couple flee burning luxury yacht
A couple fled their luxury yacht early this morning when it was engulfed in flames and sunk in the Marlborough Sounds.
Poisoning trial: Crown case closes
After two weeks of evidence and about 70 witnesses, the Crown completed its case on the Helen Milner 'Black Widow' murder trial.
Booze-free Christmas in the Park sparks debate
68-year-old caught in P scam
Business
Consumer confidence swells
Consumer confidence nears a four-year high in the lead-up to the Christmas season, an all-important period for retailers…
Chorus shares rally, ACC ups stake
Shares in Chorus climbed 8 % in early trading after ACC lifted its holding and Milford Asset Management yesterday gave the company a vote of confidence.
Focus moves to retaining Toyota
The Australian Government will work with Toyota to ensure the automotive sector remains viable in the country, Prime Minister Tony Abbott has said. Holden's US owner…
Slingshot used rival's database
Slingshot marketers used login codes to access a Telecom database to improperly switch over customers without their consent.
World
Signer blames schizophrenic attack
The sign language interpreter at Nelson Mandela's funeral said last night that a schizophrenic episode was to blame for…
Interpreter at Mandela a 'Fake'
Video
Putin defends Russian conservative values
President Vladimir Putin cast Russia as a defender of conservative values against the "genderless and infertile" Western tolerance that he said equates good and evil…
Bangladesh executes opposition leader
Scientology recognised as religion
Technology
Apple Watch: Hey ho Mac Pro
Hey, Apple, it's December and this is the month the amazing new Mac Pro was going to arrive. Things seem a little quiet…
Samsung tries to silence user over burnt phone
Public Relations can be a particular tricky beast to get right. Samsung are learning that it isn't just the art of persuading the public to adopt a particular perspective…
Tech Universe: Friday 13 December
WHERE THE WIND BLOWS: Skyscrapers are very exposed to the wind, and at 530 metres tall the Pertamina Energy Tower to be built in Jakarta will be well placed to harvest…
Apple work conditions improving
A labour group monitoring three Chinese factories that make iPhones and other Apple products says once-oppressive working conditions have steadily improved in the last…
Politics
Toby Manhire: The essential gift list
Twelve days to Christmas, and I know what you're thinking, hardworking families of New Zealand: what gift to get your favourite…
4CommentsMai Chen: Election year could do with the goodwill of Mandela
In the context of Nelson Mandela's death, I wonder how election year might treat the race issue. It usually gets a run. This is likely given the ethnicity statistics…
7CommentsGareth Morgan and Susan Guthrie: Creating jobs will not end poverty
The Prime Minister's reaction to the latest survey of child poverty was predictable but misguided. It is not just about jobs.
51CommentsInside the mind of Colin Craig
Colin Craig thinks that his days of being typecast as "whacky" are numbered.
Sport
Live updates: Ashes third test
Live updates of the third Ashes test between Australia and England at the WACA ground in Perth. England head into the match…
Soccer: Merrick waiting on his midfield
Wellington Phoenix coach Ernie Merrick is keen for his midfielders to have a therapeutic night's sleep tonight. The Scotsman is sweating on the healing powers of Carlos…
Basketball: Pledger out to give Breakers welcome breathing space
While his teammates attempt to breathe new life into their season tonight, Alex Pledger would be content to merely breathe without discomfort during the showdown against…
All Blacks: Carter to have ankle surgery
All Blacks first-five Dan Carter will have surgery to remove bone spurs from his right ankle.
Small Business
Small Business: App creators - Dave Bulling
Dave Bulling, managing director, Cook Brothers Construction, a national construction company that operates in Auckland…
