Australia has considered using a naval vessel to shepherd a boat of asylum seekers across the Tasman Sea to New Zealand, Prime Minister John Key revealed yesterday.

John Key says he received an intelligence report just before Christmas that a boat from Indonesia with hundreds of asylum seekers was planning to head to NZ.

Former immigration minister Anthony Malcolm says New Zealand's reputation abroad will be damaged by accepting refugees from Australia's asylum centres.

A Chinese migrant convicted over a kidnapping and $1 million ransom plot was allowed to work here after support from a former Associate Immigration Minister.

A group of immigrants chose Waitangi Day to become New Zealand citizens. Reporters Vaimoana Tapaleao and Kieran Campbell met some of the new New Zealanders.

In a week's time Pele Lolesi and her family will be standing at a check-in counter at Auckland Airport.

A Czech man who witnessed a murder and fled to New Zealand on a false passport could be deported after appearing before the courts for the third time.

Auckland is home to a higher proportion of high-value service sectors operating in niche areas that we are competitive in, writes Geoff Cooper.

Samoa tops the list of countries with citizens who have committed immigration fraud in New Zealand.

Kiwis will get priority for jobs in the Christchurch rebuild once new visa rules for immigrants are introduced.

Just eight people have had their refugee status revoked after a long-running saga involving a global people-smuggling ring.

A New Zealand politician is lobbying his Australian counterparts about changing laws to allow New Zealanders a fair go.

An ever-increasing number of Kiwis are eyeing a move to Australia despite the lack of access to safety nets.

Across Australia, the young and talented children of expatriate Kiwis find their careers stunted when they leave school, cut off from higher education and government apprenticeships by costs and policies.

Some parents tell their high-achieving children to not even consider university because there was no way they can afford to attend.

Kiwis caught by Australian laws excluding most from social welfare, higher education and permanent residency are increasingly becoming guest workers with few rights.

Tourists say a rogue operator promised them visits to farms, geyser parks and buffet dinners - but instead took them to free events.

Just one fake marriage has been prosecuted in the past 18 months despite nearly 10 "tip-offs" every month.

If that spectacular display did not make Mr Dotcom a household name, the New Zealand police soon did.

A growing number of Kiwis are misspelling their own names on travel documents, risking being left stranded at airports or sent home by overseas authorities.

Periodically, calls are made for a rapid expansion of the population of New Zealand - 15 million has been identified as a desirable target.