Placemakers stores around the country have joined six South Island Mitre 10 outlets in banning the sale of butane-based products to anyone aged under 18.

A youngster from the Solomon Islands has taken on the future king of England in a show of football prowess - and won. "He was good, yes, but not as good as me," said Philemon Fatai, 13.

A worldwide treaty banning aerosols 25 years ago averted a global catastrophe, New Zealand ozone layer scientists said today.

Internet giant's map showed Kiwi boy lying on road, car advancing during school drill.

The medal ceremony for Valerie Adams is to be held in front of a select audience of competition winners and VIPs, despite calls for a public celebration of her gold victory.

Paul Holmes went into hospital expecting keyhole surgery on his heart. He never dreamed he would instead endure open heart surgery.

Bus operators hold lives in their hands, work difficult shifts for little reward, but would prefer to avoid strike, Peter Calder writes in the first instalment of his new column.

Norwegian newsprint giant Norske Skog confirmed today that it will halve newsprint production at its Tasman Mill at Kawerau. A union claims more than 100 of the 280 employees may lose their jobs.

A former detective has been sentenced to 10 months' home detention for defrauding a national sevens tournament of $64,000.

A Dunedin woman having a bite to eat found something extra crunchy and unwelcome at the bottom of her packet of chips.

To mark the Herald relaunch we're taking an in-depth, week-long look at what it means to be Kiwi. Today - why we choose NZ over anywhere else on the globe.

Clear cut results are thin on the ground but Prime Minister John Key said today he was happy with this year's Apec economic meeting in Vladivostok, Russia.