It seems hard to escape the conclusion that the UK government has opted, in effect, to end any fiscal advantage to staying at home with young kids.

Possums, rats and stoats have something new to fear after the Government and the Green Party today announced $4 million in funding to trial self-resetting traps.

Latest inflation stats show a 1.1pc rise in the CPI for the September quarter, which means an annual inflation rate of 1.5pc.

Roads, schools, prisons - business wants a share of the action, but the Government is in no rush, reports Nick Smith.

Labour president Andrew Little has called for a fresh debate about republicanism following a speech at the party's conference.

A $1.3 billion offer for South Canterbury Finance appears to have been rejected after Treasury received advice that the deal was not necessarily the best one it could get.