As John Key prepares for a White House visit next week, New Zealand's Pacific role is growing in value.

Despite weather extremes, an Auckland climate scientist is unconvinced about the role of human-induced global warming.

Some decisions can't be passed off to lawyers or staff, judge rules.

Joanne Carroll has a high time above the clouds in Vancouver.

Peter Calder blogs daily on the New Zealand International Film Festival in Auckland.

Tracie Cone visits Mexico's tequila heartland and finds some historic distilling techniques still in play.

More people are finding elaborate ways to propose marriage, wedding industry experts say.

After Detroit dealers' brush with death, they now have a chance to spruce up their showrooms, says Tom Krisher.

The president they've got is no great shakes, but Americans could find it hard to vote for the alternatives.

Biggest economy wouldn't default over politics, would it?

Start-up tech firms need to repeat modest successes, says US Icehouse visitor.

Stir caused by opera character's sexual identity shows society still mired in paranoia.

Rapper Nicki Minaj's cousin has been murdered.

There are two kinds of readers - those who peek at the last page and those who wouldn't dream of it.

Researchers have issued a new caution over the use of Champix quit-smoking tablets.

Estelle Sarney visited Cape Canaveral as the Endeavour was being prepared for its last flight.

Actor John Malkovich has extended his fashion range to include a second clothing line - full of bohemian-inspired pieces.

An Italian study backs up Alasdair Thompson's claim that women take more sick leave due to their periods, but experts say the reasons behind gender-related pay inequality go much deeper.

Each week, Wendyl Nissen takes a packaged food item and decodes what the label tells you about its contents.

Ultra-luxury carmaker teams up with Toyota to produce a surprising runabout for urban drivers.

Dame Elizabeth Taylor's personal possessions are to be sold at auction.