John Key has revealed that 15 New Zealand SAS troops in Afghanistan were involved in a gun fight with "insurgents" on Friday.

Wave activity "appears to be stabilised" at previously-reported levels, Civil Defence Emergency Management says.

This week I want to explain why women are pants at motor racing.

Pampering fit for a king is still on offer in the royal city of Agra, writes Audrey Young.

Australian director Bruce Beresford chats about his unusual childhood, and his latest film, Mao's Last Dancer.

Vietnam's food smells as good as it tastes, writes Paul Jobin.

Award-winning Auckland chef Geoff Scott finds inspiration (and weird things) on holiday in Tokyo.

A kung fu "Grand Master" who left New Zealand after a scandal in which one of his students died was detained by police on serious weapons charges in Thailand.

Telecommunications reporter Helen Twose talks to 80s hair bands, gets tweeted at by a shrub, sees Audi's Wi-Fi-toting A8 and meets a guy paid to roll his eyes at the Mobile World Congress.

The aroma of your steak frying may set your tastebuds tingling - but it may also give the chef cancer, especially if they are using a gas cooker.

Kiwi sportspeople scheduled to compete in India could be endangered after a chilling warning from al Qaeda.