Expansive green playing fields may be one of those traditional items of "Kiwiana" but - rightly or wrongly - may have had their day.

Here's our tips for what we'd love to see this year, but know they have no chance of happening. If by some miracle they do though, you read it here first.

10 years ago, a Law Commission paper found our court system too slow, too costly and unhelpful. Today, there is still a long way to go - and modern technology must be harnessed to improve efficiency in black-and-white cases.

As Christmas is just two days away I've joined in the season of goodwill by picking my top 10 politicians this year. Next week I'll rank the 10 worst. John Key is on next week's list.

This Christmas, more alleged criminals will be in jail awaiting trial than in any previous year on records supplied by our prisons. The number has steadily increased since this Government came to power, to a estimated 1671 this week.

Christmas always proves the adage: it is easier to give than to receive. Not that giving seemed easy this week as we searched the shops for something loved ones would like.