As hotels begin cashing in on next year's Rugby World Cup by increasing prices, interest in private homes is also picking up pace.

Families-based social services initiative Whanau Ora will receive $134.3 million in funding over the next four years, Prime Minister John Key announced today.

A businessman on a trade delegation to the Middle East has rejected criticism of John Key for ditching the delegation to attend the funerals of three Air Force crewmen.

Paula Bennett lauded a professor she appointed to a welfare reform group - then confused him with a namesake with wildly opposing views.

Garth George writes that cigarettes are a tax windfall, and denying smokers medical attention is hypocritical.

Calls by senior Labour figures for people to vote tactically against the Conservative Party in the election were condemned as "desperate".

Police cars are standing guard outside Beijing schools this week in an attempt to stop deadly assaults on students.

John Key's decision to attend the funerals of three Air Force servicemen has been criticised as "short-sighted and irresponsible".

Britain's general election tomorrow night will be closely followed elsewhere in Europe.

Pakistan's Taleban chief promised attacks on major US cities in a video released after the failed car bomb attempt in New York, a monitoring group said.

Margaret Devlin, a professional director, writes on water providers, monopolies and necessary controls.

Tuhoe leaders say a Crown apology for 19th century injustices would be meaningless unless tribes who fought with colonial forces also say sorry.