New Zealand consumer confidence has sunk to an 18-month low suggesting retailers have little reason to expect Christmas cheer to be reflected in sales.

Up to 95 homes in Auckland's Franklin Rd now have their Xmas lights on at night, says the founder of the annual spectacle.

It's Christmas party time and Veronica Merkel enjoys the occasional long-lunch on Auckland's Princes Wharf.

Royal watchers, romantics and well-wishers finally have a date: the royal wedding will take place on April 29 next year.

Speaker Lockwood Smith has axed the international travel perk MPs and their spouses have used since the 1970s, saying it was clear the tide had turned on the perks.

A cutprice airfare war has erupted on the Tasman, and some flights are now as cheap as a cab to the airport.

With the festive season approaching, Catherine Smith finds there is more than one way to present a present.

Every employee in the land should be concerned at the hammering the actors have got for daring to ask for meaningful negotiations.

The irony is, many working people end up working on Labour Day.

More cafes, bars and restaurants are forgoing surcharges on public holidays.

Police say the driver of a car which crashed near Westport killing his young passenger, ran from the crash.

People have flocked to the beaches to enjoy the sunshine of the long holiday weekend, with conditions set to stay this way for the rest of the week.

A woman told yesterday how a blood-soaked teenager screamed for help at her front door, as two of his friends lay dead in a car wreck nearby.

The Commerce Commission is warning businesses not to mislead customers when applying a surcharge on goods and services ahead of this weekend's Labour Day holiday.

The Waitakere Tramline was built in the early 1900s to facilitate repairs and maintenance to the Waitakere Dam. Weekly trips have now been running for 35 years and are a great way to amuse the entire family, whatever the weather.

Staying home is the new going away. Bronwyn Sell looks at how the 'staycation' can be just as fun as a holiday away - and at the same time can save you lots of money.