Profits have fallen at national airline Air New Zealand, with the Christchurch and Japanese earthquakes hitting the company hard.

Qantas Airways has more than doubled full year net profit but says the general operating environment is challenging and extremely volatile.

A Las Vegas casino resort took on a Kiwi flavour this week when top band Opshop played in front of about 600 New Zealanders.

Spies, jail sentences, hidden assets, a famous explorer - a former MP's bid to build a high-tech stealth helicopter has more twists than a combat mission, reports Karyn Scherer.

P. Diddy's entourage were stopped by French customs for trying to bring too much vodka into the country.

At the height of the aviation chaos caused by the ash cloud, I commented to my wife, "It's going to be interesting to see the outcome of this ... "

There's nothing like being left waiting at a chilly airport to make you appreciate Air NZ.

Air NZ has edged out New Zealand Post to claim the top spot in a study of corporation reputation, while Telecom has avoided the wooden spoon - but only because Exxon Mobil has just joined the list.

Heavy rain, sleet and snow is threatening parts of NZ. Follow developments and read reader reaction from your area.

Weather forecasters say worst of electrical storms over but heavy snow likely in south.

Dizzee Rascal is facing a lifetime ban from British Airways after being thrown off a flight.