62 parties have expressed interest in making submissions to the inquiry into why so many buildings were destroyed by the Canterbury earthquakes.

Despite weather extremes, an Auckland climate scientist is unconvinced about the role of human-induced global warming.

The last of 366 30-tonne concrete beams has been put in place over the $340 million tunnel.

Today the Weekend Herald salutes the winners of the annual Sir Peter Blake Leadership Awards, which honour one of the country's greatest leaders, the late Sir Peter Blake.