The Smokefree Coalition says stores should be investigated for selling heavily discounted cigarettes and may be in breach of the Smoke-free Environments Act.

Auckland, Oct 15 NZPA - The under-performing Blues Super 14 rugby franchise has managed to hang to North Harbour All Blacks Tony Woodcock and Anthony Boric.

Christchurch City Council's Community, Recreation and Culture Committee has agreed that up to 22 new social housing units should be built on vacant land in existing complexes and repairs completed on almost 300 social housing units by the end of this year.

Introducing a robust, legal way for local government to manage the risks posed by outdoor use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) is a step closer following a decision by Whangarei District Council’s District Living Committee.

Samsung today announced the latest in its Galaxy S series of phones, the Galaxy S4. Jan Dawson, chief telecom analyst at Ovum, provides this initial reaction:

Staff at the New Zealand Qualifications Authority are due to walk off the job later today over NZQA’s refusal to negotiate fairly in on-going pay talks.

The draft unitary plan now needs input from Aucklanders so they can achieve the smart, green Auckland they want, the Green Party said today.

The Environmental Defence Society has welcomed the release of the draft Auckland Unitary Plan.

"Auckland Council has passed two key tests with this draft," said EDS Chairman Gary Taylor.

A state of drought has been officially declared throughout the entire North Island by the Minister for Primary Industries Nathan Guy today.

Mayor Len Brown and Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse today launched a 10-week public engagement period on the draft Auckland Unitary Plan, the planning rulebook that will shape Auckland’s future growth.

The Strategy and Policy Committee yesterday agreed to consult on three options for local government reform in the region.

New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Murray McCully must continue to raise constitutional and human rights issues with Burma, the Green Party said today.

Police Minister Anne Tolley is the latest to join in on the ducking and diving trend sweeping through the National Cabinet, says Labour’s Law and Order spokesperson Kris Faafoi.

National Swimming High Performance Director, Luis Villanueva sees the State New Zealand Championships starting in Auckland on Sunday as a new beginning.

The Selwyn-Waihora Zone Committee will meet for the second time this month on Tuesday, 19 March, in Rolleston.

Across Auckland, extreme weather conditions are proving challenging.

Auckland Council operational teams are working closely with emergency response experts to mitigate risk in problem areas.

Some 25 percent of million-dollar-plus apartments in a seaside residential complex have been sold - even before the first sod of earth has been turned in building the development.

Buses will replace some trains this Sunday 17 March to allow work associated with electrification and upgrading of rail stations to continue.

Sunday 17 March

- Western Line - buses replace all trains

- Onehunga Line - buses replace all trains

When his shiny new $2500 Rinnai Ultimate Barbecue is delivered, the first item that prize winner Jim is going to cook on it is every good Kiwi bloke's dream meal - a nice, juicy slab of steak.

Chiropractic care may have a role to play in assisting those who display a poor proprioceptive function say researchers at the New Zealand College of Chiropractic, who are developing a scale to measure what they have dubbed ‘Klutz Syndrome’.