Julia Gillard says Kiwis should not "fear Australia's strength" ahead of the signing of an investment protocol between the two countries.

Finalising a new transtasman investment agreement is on the agenda in talks between Julia Gillard and John Key.

An Australian job expo in Auckland where more than 6000 people lined up to find out about work across the Tasman shows National's economic management has failed, Labour leader Phil Goff says.

Sick and disabled NZers are taking legal action against the Australian Government over what they call a "discriminatory" law denying them medical care and other state support.

Growth from India, Vietnam and Saudi Arabia supporting traditional sources.

The husband of an Auckland woman burnt to death is the son of a Hindu high priest and was nearly deported from NZ for overstaying.

Australia's big cities are eating the nation's future as they spread out across shrinking farmland, increase pollution, threaten water supplies and hit the quality of life.

In the run-up to Christmas at least 12 Auckland Chinese restaurants received surprise visits from IRD officers.

There was mild celebration last year when the New Zealand and Spanish governments negotiated an agreement on working holiday visas.

Growing problems for New Zealanders trying to obtain British visas will be up for discussion in talks with British ministers this week. From April, the number is to be limited to 21,700 a year, compared to about 28,000 in 2009.

Families of the men killed in the Pike River mine will be getting immediate financial relief to get them through Christmas.

New Zealand attracted more new migrants in November as long-term arrivals were steady, though Australia's attraction for kiwis persists.

It's now feared more than 50 asylum seekers drowned when their wooden boat smashed onto rocks on Christmas Island.

Young people in Australia born in NZ are least likely to feel good about living in Australia.