House pops up on beach
An Auckland couple were amazed to be told by their lawnmowing man that a house had appeared on their vacant beach section without their knowledge.
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Leading Headlines
68-year-old caught in P scam
A 68-year-old man has been caught with $1.5 million of methamphetamine in his luggage after being tricked by Nigerian internet scammers.
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Len Brown silent on hotel bills
Auckland Mayor Len Brown will not say if he has received free hotel rooms as pressure mounts on him to come clean on overnight stays in the city.
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Fierce fire destroys, sinks boat
A 50 foot boat sank in the Marlborough Sounds early this morning after a huge fire on board which left two people needing treatment.
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High-end house prices surging
House prices in Auckland's blue-ribbon suburbs are rising fast, latest Real Estate Institute figures show.
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Bangladesh executes opposition leader
Bangladesh has executed an opposition leader convicted of war crimes hours after the Supreme Court rejected his last-minute appeal, officials said.
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Restaurant target in drugs case
A yum cha restaurant in downtown Auckland was allegedly used as a cover for a drug running enterprise.
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Signer blames schizophrenic attack
The sign language interpreter at Nelson Mandela's funeral said last night that a schizophrenic episode was to blame for him gesticulating nonsense during the entire…
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Inside the mind of Colin Craig
Colin Craig thinks that his days of being typecast as "whacky" are numbered.
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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…
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Taylor is gaining but Crowe supreme
When Ross Taylor became holder of NZ's best test average - of those whose careers had some duration to them - it raised one of those talking points so beloved of cricket…
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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
Editorial: Little solace for families
Judge Jane Farish was doubtless on the mark when she said yesterday that the likelihood of a prosecution of Peter Whittall was "extremely low" and the case may never…
20CommentsLike it or not, Brown can't be fired
Like the colourful Mayor Rob Ford of Toronto, Mr Brown, if he so desires, can sit it out until hell freezes over, writes Brian Rudman. That's unless he's chased out…
30CommentsLatest
News
The Diary
Tamihere calls it quits
Editor's Picks
Golden Globes nominations
Finns' family charity mission
Oz model accused of cover-up
Shoes level playing field
Hank's obsession is no bull
Video Pick
Video
Lorde: Her unique sound
Cartoon
Cartoon: Pike River
Sideswipe
Dec 13: Affordable Orakei
2013's top matches
Ferns make history in USA
Quizzes
Herald daily quiz: December 13
National
Updated 24 min ago
Lawyer: Further prosecution not realistic
A lawyer who acts for the families of those killed in the Pike River Mine disaster says further prosecution against mine…
Pike River two years on
Video
Safety catch on way for fake guns
You can buy real-looking guns for just a fistful of dollars at a $2 shop.
Conservatives would seek anti-smacking repeal
Steroid testing for forces urged
Business
Retailer blasts tax 'failure'
The New Zealand Retailers Association has reiterated its call for GST to be applied to all online purchases after the boss…
Exports add to interest pressures
Export commodity prices have joined the housing market and the exchange rate in the front row of drivers of the interest rate outlook. "How much and how quickly interest…
US mulls lifting ban on in-flight phone calls
As one part of the US government looks to remove restrictions on making phone calls from airplanes, another agency is apparently considering its own prohibition. Federal…
Synlait enjoys standout year
Just as Synlait Milk chief John Penno was preparing to list the company on the NZX in June, Holland's FrieslandCampina swooped in to pick up 7.5% of the Rakaia-based…
World
Putin defends Russian conservative values
President Vladimir Putin cast Russia as a defender of conservative values against the "genderless and infertile" Western…
Russia backs down on Olympic 'no protest' decree
Scientology recognised as religion
Scientology has been recognised officially as a "religion" in Britain after the country's highest court swept aside 158 years of law to rule that worshipping a god is…
'Cowboy' shark hunters worry young victim's mum
Outpouring of grief
Technology
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…
New frustration for Yahoo Xtra users
Yahoo Xtra customers are again pulling their hair out as email services are disrupted once more.
Traveller stripped of tech gear
A backpacker coming home for Christmas had every bit of electronic equipment stripped from him at the airport.
Tech Universe: Thursday 12 December
UPHILL'S A BREEZE: Skiers and snowboarders like to slide down mountains, and often aren't excited by the need to use a chairlift or rope tow to be hauled up again. The…
Politics
The Insider: Miner's smokescreen
Some state-owned enterprises really don't appreciate the scrutiny they get from the media or politicians, and Solid Energy…
MFAT leak: 'Person Z' hits back
The Ministry of Justice's deputy-secretary has outed himself as one of two former top MFAT managers fingered by an investigation as attempting to disrupt a restructuring…
No further compensation for injured brothers
Two brothers who were badly injured in Defence Force exercises will not get further compensation from Government, Defence Force Minister Jonathan Coleman revealed this…
PM's office distances itself from party photographer
Prime Minister John Key's office has distanced itself from a staffer who sent photographs to controversial website Whaleoil. The website published photographs today…
Sport
Video
Rugby 'world record' unsung in football-mad Cyprus
Most Cypriots are blissfully unaware of it but their national rugby XV has notched up a 21st straight triumph, thanks largely…
Cricket: Field marshal Watling in command
New Zealand took charge of the second cricket test in a strong final session at the Basin Reserve, but the platform was laid much earlier in the day. And in that respect…
Athletics: Walsh breaks NZ record again
Shot Putter Tom Walsh has done it again. The Timaru builder took another huge stride on the international track & field stage yesterday, winning the shot put at the…
Cricket: Ryder sets stage for another first-class onslaught
Only a downpour prevented Jesse Ryder from yesterday adding to the deluge of runs he has scored this summer in search of an international return.
Small Business
Small Business: App creators - Bill Wallace
Bill Wallace, co-owner of Wallace Cotton, a homewares brand which includes bed, bath and kitchen linen, homewares, furniture…
