Tax-dodging Kiwis cheated the country out of at least $80 million in undeclared income last year - and the scale of the problem remains unknown.

A waiter sacked from a popular Auckland cafe for allegedly stealing a $15 tip wants to move on with his life after a "horrible" ordeal to clear his name.

The consumers price index (CPI) rose just 0.3 per cent for the September 2012 quarter, taking the annual rate to just 0.8 per cent.

Jobseekers should not ignore rural NZ when it comes to looking for work as smaller areas have more opportunities in some industries, a Herald investigation has found.

A Whangaparaoa boat building company has been ordered to pay $45,000 after one of its workers was seriously injured in a fall from height.

The top pay packets of heads of the state sector have been revealed today, with one boss receiving a $40,000 pay rise, despite drastic cutbacks at his Ministry.

Employment is a fearful responsibility, so the new youth rate is a temporary saving for employers to entice them to take a chance on a young person.

NZ remains focused on the target of getting back into surplus in 2014-15, Finance Minister Bill English says, and we're better off than many other countries.

The Government ended the last financial year with a deficit that was about half of what it was last year, but more than the billion shortfall signalled in the May Budget.

Workers' unions were quick to write off the Government's plan for a new, low, starting pay yesterday, while business leaders said it would help create jobs.

Trade unionists were quick to write off the Government's plan for a new, low, starting pay today, while business leaders said it would help create jobs.

The government will unveil the details of its version of the "youth wage" today - allowing employers to pay less than the minimum wage to many young workers.