The highest earning households in New Zealand are in the electorate the Prime Minister lives in, according to Census figures.

An ageing population has contributed to the rise in the number of disabled people in New Zealand, which last year rose to over one million - almost a quarter of the population.

New Zealand's unemployment rate was unchanged in the first quarter as the country's participation rate rose to a record.

Most Maori are connected to their culture, with Maori television programmes playing a crucial role, according to a new report.

MPs at a select committee are considering a law change that would lower the drink driving limit from 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood to 50mg.

Statisticians have discovered thousands more children and the elderly living in poverty than have been reported previously.

Rising economic confidence and "aggressive" marketing techniques are seen as the driving factors behind an 8.9 million litre rise in alcohol availability last year.

A hike in rents and the general cost of living are taking the shine off a significant slowdown in rising food prices, a budgeting service says.

New Zealand's unemployment rate fell to a three-year low in the fourth quarter of 2013 as jobs growth beat expectations.

The most favourable terms of trade for 40 years and a $3.1 billion rise in exports to China were not enough to close the trade gap last year.

Forgetfulness, lack of interest and simply not getting around to it have been revealed as the most common reasons for not voting in the past two general elections.

Personal income has fallen dramatically in South Auckland compared to more affluent Auckland areas, according to the latest Census data.

NZ gained a net 3,000 permanent and long-term migrants last month, the most since June 2003.

NZ's unemployment rate slipped to 6.2 per cent in the three months ended September 30 just below the 6.3 per cent forecast.

New Zealand had its highest net gain of migrants in more than 10 years last month, as even fewer Kiwis left for Australia.

The Christchurch population has predictably slumped since the devastating earthquakes, but many people have moved to outlying areas, new census data reveals.

The population of the South Island has topped one million for the first time, new census figures released today show.