Japan will lay five charges against anti-whaling activist Peter Bethune, for boarding the Shonan Maru II in the Southern Ocean in February. His lawyer says the situation is potentially very serious.

Harajuku, the epicentre of Tokyo's youth fashion scene, is where small, slightly deranged teenagers with an endless capacity for weirdness come to play dress-up.

Japanese lawyers are lined up to defend incarcerated anti-whaling protester Peter Bethune, but an environmental group still hopes Japanese authorities will send him home.

Japanese media have expressed frustration at a NZ activist's anti-whaling protests, with one top newspaper accusing him of terrorism.

The leader of Australia's Green Party is backing a campaign to free anti-whaling protester Peter Bethune.

Women students are demanding government action after a survey showed men with the same tertiary qualifications start earning more after one year.

Any deal with Japan to allow whaling would have to be very attractive to get New Zealand support, Foreign Minister Murray McCully says.

Wave activity "appears to be stabilised" at previously-reported levels, Civil Defence Emergency Management says.

This week I want to explain why women are pants at motor racing.

Award-winning Auckland chef Geoff Scott finds inspiration (and weird things) on holiday in Tokyo.

New Zealand's favourite car - the Toyota Corolla - should not be affected by the steering problems reported in the United States, says a Toyota spokesperson.

Toyota says it is recalling about 437,000 Prius and other hybrid vehicles worldwide to fix brake problems.

Residents of Toyota say they were surprised by the safety problems that have led to a mass recall of Toyota vehicles.