Imagine a world in which the advances of the science since the publication of 'On the Origin of Species' - or even since Charles Darwin was born - were ignored.

In a year that is unusually crowded with historical commemorations, one that may escape attention is the 170th anniversary of the flagpole in Russell.

A study released by NASA has revealed that modern civilisation is heading for collapse. Today we look at seven civilisations that have disappeared and the reasons behind their demise.

The picturesque Kohekohe Church could have been lost to the local community for good if it hadn't been for Trade Me.

Modern civilisation is heading for collapse within a matter of decades, according to a scientific study funded by Nasa.

Greg Dixon talks to Kiwi actress Chelsie Preston Crayford about her bohemian childhood and why she resisted going into showbiz.

Warm, wet weather spanning several decades helped one of history's most fearsome tyrants to conquer most of Asia and Eastern Europe.

The new police commissioner is not intending to apologise directly to Arthur Allan Thomas despite a plea from his brother, who says the public apology was "half-hearted''.

The brother of Arthur Allan Thomas says new police commissioner should apologise to Mr Thomas directly for a recent eulogy and ensure resolving the Crewe murders has priority.

A gem found on a sheep ranch in Australia has been found to have formed 4.4 billion years ago - making it the oldest piece of our planet ever recorded.

Even by the Byzantine standards of global antiquities theft the case of Subhash Kapoor is jaw-dropping.

It was February 11, 1864 and the invading British forces advanced deeper into the Waikato heartland, closing in on the Maori King Movement's agricultural base.

The new owners of a century-old villa that was cut in half and moved from Mt Eden to Warkworth last week plan to turn it into a family home.

When it comes to other Commonwealth countries and their flags, we are in the minority, writes Malcolm Mulholland. Of the 54 member nations of the Commonwealth, 45 have removed the Union Jack.

It's Hungary's Holocaust memorial year - but why are Jewish groups in the country intending to boycott all state-organised events?

Buyer of Remuera plot will have to obey wealthy mansion owner's height restrictions.

A new finding about the domestication of camels in Israel casts doubt on the historical accuracy of some Bible stories.

Burrowing bunnies have uncovered an 8,000-year old treasure trove buried near Land’s End in the United Kingdom.

Britain should not have gone to war in 1914 and the decision to do so was the "biggest error in modern history", according to historian Niall Ferguson.

A Stone Age man who lived about 7000 years ago and whose buried bones were discovered in 2006 has turned out to be the earliest known person with blue eyes.

Chinese businessman who arrived as a boy in 1939 can look back on 75 years of fruitful life in NZ as a proud Kiwi.

The boss behind New Zealand's biggest heritage building revitalisation project has praised Government moves to have the country's building stock strengthened.

Dionne Christian gets a fascinating insight into our city's history.

It's called a Papahu, it lived 19 to 22 million years ago and scientists believe the newly recognised dolphin fossil from NZ is the first of its kind ever found.

Begin atop Maungawhau (Mt Eden, mountain of the whau tree) and imagine classical Maori society.

Friendliness and a can-do attitude top a list of traits that New Zealanders think reflect our national identity.