The dangerous combination of a weekend of drinking and a sleeping pill resulted in Jarrad Hoeata going on a reckless drive that ended when motorists blocked him off the road.

A sole parent says she has lost a sixth of her bodyweight because she has not been able to eat properly since the Govt tightened access to training subsidies for beneficiaries.

Amy-Rose Allen, 22, was a beauty show contestant and an alcoholic who fell victim to what her parents described as NZ's "widely accepted" binge-drinking culture.

Kiwi parents' biggest fear is that their children will spiral into drug and alcohol addiction, a survey has found.

Broadcaster and soon-to-be brothel owner Pam Corkery has spoken of her 30-year battle with alcoholism.

Controversial broadcaster and Whanganui Mayor Michael Laws has gone on radio revealing an "unwise" relationship he was having with a woman from "an unusual background".

Customers of fast food restaurants could be offered a free statin to mitigate the meal's damaging effects on the heart, a doctor suggests.

A man caught travelling at 164km/h in the BOP had other motorists to blame after he was found with a breath alcohol reading over twice the legal limit.

Former Prime Minister Helen Clark is calling for a major rethink about leading multilateral institutions including UN where she is No 3 in command.

Victim advocates are relieved to see a reversal by ACC on its decision to cut funding for sexual abuse counselling, but the Greens say independent reviews should also follow other changes the Crown organisation has made.

Wellington coroner Ian Smith has called for a review of the Privacy Act in his findings on the suicide of a young university student two years ago.