The Labour Party says it now expects the Government to back off the prospect of mining on Great Barrier Island and in the Coromandel.

Youssou N'Dour, the Senegalese musician once described by Rolling Stone magazine as the most famous living African singer, has taken his first steps into politics.

The New Zealand Govt has been given some breathing space on corporate tax after the Australian Govt decided to only cut its rates by just 2 per cent by 2014.

Thailand's Cabinet is due to hold an emergency meeting in the face of unrelenting anti-government street protests.

David Cameron has increased his party's lead to 10 points, making an outright Conservative victory this week possible, a poll suggests.

Mining bid draws 40,000 people to the street in anger, reports Matt Nippert.

Fisherman and seafaring residents of the Louisiana shoreline despair as a vast oil slick approaches.

Nowhere is there an over-arching narrative that spells out exactly what sort of New Zealand Key wants to leave behind.

Questions are sure to be raised about a self-policing system that trusted a commercial oil operator to take care of its own mishap.

Higher tobacco taxes are a first step to reducing numbers of smokers. Martin Johnston looks at what else could be on the cards.