UNICEF NZ (UN Children’s Fund) is warning that unless an 80% funding gap is urgently addressed, the charity’s work with Syrian children will have to be scaled back.

"Eat Bluff oysters neat," is the advice avid oyster lovers have been dishing out ahead of the Bluff oyster season, kicking off this March.

Maori Party Co-leader, Tariana Turia, has described last night’s New Zealander of the Year Ceremony as a very proud moment for Aotearoa.

"Dame Anne Salmond is a most appropriate champion of our national spirit.

Ministers are given too much power in the Government's newly released discussion document on stage two of its Resource Management Act reforms, says Labour's Environment Spokesperson, Maryan Street.

A poll of New Zealanders has found that three out of four voters think Councils should have the power to prevent brothels such as the Chow brother’s high-rise brothel in Auckland being established in central city areas.

Awanui Black says the MPs on the parliamentary select committee hearing submissions on charter schools need to listen long and hard to what iwi are telling them.

Customs Minister Maurice Williamson says the International Mail Centre in Auckland is a great example of how government agencies can collaborate successfully for the benefit of New Zealand.

The University of Auckland has achieved second place overall in the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) International Mediation Competition, held in Paris, France in February. This is the first time a New Zealand team has competed in the global event.

Thirty seven art works by well-known New Zealand artist Heather Masters have been donated to the University of Canterbury (UC) arts collection by the Chancellor Dr John Wood and Vice-Chancellor Dr Rod Carr.

The Vodafone Warriors are not only playing in the Capital this season but they’ll also be kitted out in Wellington colours for their historic NRL encounter with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs at Westpac Stadium on Saturday, May 11 (7.30pm kick-off).

Maori Party Co-leader, Tariana Turia, has described last night’s New Zealander of the Year Ceremony as a very proud moment for Aotearoa.

"Dame Anne Salmond is a most appropriate champion of our national spirit.

Education Minister Hekia Parata has welcomed new figures showing thousands more children are getting a better start in their education.

Figures published by the Ministry of Education today show enrolments in early childhood education services increased by 2,400 between 2011 and 2012.

The Mayor is inviting Waitakere and Swanson locals to an informal community meeting on Tuesday 12 March.

The 6.30pm meeting at the Swanson Primary School Hall is one in a series of regular meetings the Mayor holds around Auckland to connect with different communities.

The Unmask Palm Oil campaign last night launched a petition at Auckland Zoo calling on the government to tighten weak palm oil labelling laws that lets companies hide behind generic and scientific names.

Hundreds of hearing impaired people are set to benefit from a new Government-funded telephone service, Communications and Information Technology Minister Amy Adams says.

Co-Leader of the Maori Party, Dr Pita Sharples is over the moon that Gail Parata (Nga Ruahine Rangi, Ngati Ruanui) has been appointed as the new National Coach for Netball Scotland and congratulates her for achieving this milestone in her career.

Savings of $2m and a rates increase lower than projected are features of Gisborne District Council’s draft 2013/14 Annual Plan that was adopted for consultation on Thursday (28 February).

Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson has tonight announced the four finalists for the Christchurch urban design competition "Breathe".

Internationally renowned urban strategist Charles Landry will arrive in Palmerston North tomorrow for a week-long residency in which he will Index the City against 14 other cities from around the world.

Waikato Regional Council today approved a 1.8 per cent pay rise for chief executive Bob Laing after confirmation that he had met all performance objectives for the year ending 30 June 2012. The increase takes the chief executive’s annual remuneration to $313,768.