A major new global plan aimed at forcing multinationals to pay more taxes has been described as underwhelming and disappointing by a Kiwi tax expert.

New Zealand has been named and shamed as one of the fattest countries in the world in a report report by the United Nations.

Emerging markets like India and China are becoming just as frustrated with international corporate tax rules as developed economies, says a KPMG partner.

New Zealanders are beginning to realise the Australian dream is not so perfect and the grass may in fact be starting to become greener over here.

New Zealand's research and development spend rose to $2.6b last year but remains far below many other OECD countries as a proportion of GDP.

NZ has been ranked the best place in the world to be a working woman - but one advocate says the major obstacles and inequalities for women here are getting worse.

The Government has ignored a recommendation by the United Nations for legislation to dictate a maximum number of work hours to reduce the risk to workplace health and safety.

To disguise what it is doing, the Beehive has ordered the Ministry for the Environment to abandon the five-yearly State of the Environment round-up report, writes Neville Peat.

Editorial: Steven Joyce is not the first Tertiary Education Minister to be frustrated by the discrepancy between the courses offered by universities and what the country needs.

An OECD report has revealed that tertiary study adds little to New Zealanders' earning power.

To mark the Herald relaunch we're taking an in-depth, week-long look at what it means to be Kiwi. Today - why we choose NZ over anywhere else on the globe.

Increasing the minimum wage and paid parental leave to a minimum of 18 weeks are recommended in a report on how New Zealand can improve the quality of life for children.

R plates? Why not 'O' plates for older drivers, too, say some teen drivers who are against compulsory plates.

The number of kiwis taking out private healthcare insurance has fallen by over 25,000.

The Government says we can't afford to introduce six months' paid parental leave. Child advocates and some parents claim we can't afford not to. Andrew Laxon reports.

R&D - everyone knows we need more of it, so where's the plan? asks Chris Barton.