Humanitarian help has become a huge industry, buffering corrupt regimes and perpetuating war, claims the author of a new book.

Attorney-General John Caughi has accused the Tongan govt of trying to curb an independent judiciary and attempting to interfere with the Princess Ashika inquiry.

A major hospital has evacuated patients and suspended all but emergency surgery.

The Govt has cancelled pumping $430m into superannuation, tax credits and benefits that would have, in effect, been compensation for higher tobacco taxes.

Passport scam accused Gerard Otimi says the Government is "neglecting" the 140,000 overstayers he claims are in New Zealand

NZ's rag-tag pack of financial market watchdogs will be replaced by a "super regulator" in a move to restore confidence after the finance company meltdown.

Increases in terror attacks in Pakistan and Afghanistan triggered a spike in the number of civilians killed or wounded there last year.

The Government is unlikely to follow through with the ETS as scheduled beyond 2013 unless its major trading partners do the same.

A typical pack of 25 cigarettes will cost now $17 after tax hikes were bulldozed through Parliament last night.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's backtracking on his proposed greenhouse emissions trading scheme has unleashed his worst demons.