The Government has so far paid $400,000 to employ a Canadian judge to evaluate whether David Bain should receive compensation.

Former NZ diplomat Warren Searell called Damascus home until the Arab spring made life far too dangerous. This is his story.

Auckland Mayor Len Brown is urging Parliament to pass the alcohol law reform legislation soon, so communities can prepare to use the new rules effectively.

In our second debate on the Electoral Commission's recommendations for MMP, Graeme Edgeler and Muriel Newman put the arguments for and against reducing the threshold. Join the debate and leave your comments at the end.

David Bain's future mother-in-law says she is "delighted" to welcome him to the family, after his engagement was confirmed today.

The Labour Party will make a last-ditch attempt to introduce strict limits on the sale of sweetened alcoholic drinks after the Government backed down on its plan to ban high-strength alcopops.