NZ's aviation watchdog says it has some airline pilots under surveillance for alcohol or drug abuse, but can't say how many, or whether they still fly.

Air NZ boss Rob Fyfe has accused police of intentionally trying to undermine confidence in the airline - a claim the police minister rejects.

A row has broken out between Air NZ and the police after claims of drink-driving staff and a drinking culture.

Masterchef celebrity judge Ross Burden agreed to leave work after making suggestive remarks to young male kitchen staff at an upmarket Auckland restaurant this week.

Kevin Rudd would like to see the drinking age in Australia raised from 18 to 21 years.

Wine drinkers should switch to lower-alcohol varieties to reduce their chances of getting cancer, scientists say.

Police surveillance set up to catch a drunk driver who went on to kill three young people was flawed, a report released today said.

A 19-year-old man rear-ended a taxi before colliding with two other cars on Saturday night.

Dozens of drunk drivers, many with sober passengers, were caught by police near a popular campground despite warnings and a highly visible booze bus.

The policing of a liquor ban in Whangamata has come under fire from holidaymakers who say the zero-tolerance approach is too heavy-handed and lacks common sense.