A senior investigator says illegal ivory trading is increasing in New Zealand, as a retiree becomes the first person convicted of ivory trading under NZ law.

More than 700kg of drugs were mixed with "putrid waste" yesterday before being cooked and disposed of by Customs.

A China importer says Zespri stood to gain more than it did by understating the value of kiwifruit for customs duty purposes.

Student loan holders will pay $11 more a week from today as the Government ramps up its repayment scheme.

The mystery of how 165kg of cocaine was slipped into a New Zealand shipping container of milk powder remains unsolved, according to an official report.

The Australian doctor known as Dr Death is encouraging people to support a Labour MP's bill that would legalise euthanasia.

Euthanasia advocate Dr Philip Nitschke says he will make a formal complaint against Customs after being held at Auckland International Airport until 2am yesterday while officials scrutinised his and his wife's luggage.

A High Court order enforcing the exhumation of a Christchurch man's body might be needed to finally return his body to his partner, after it was taken to Bay of Plenty.

Denise Clarke is overwhelmed that the fight to have the body of her partner returned is over after it was taken by his family to be buried with his ancestors.

The family of a man, who was buried in a place against his partner's wishes has lost a five-year legal battle to have his body buried with his ancestors, the Supreme Court has ruled.

From music to fast food, more Kiwis are choosing to shop online. But retailers need to provide good, old-fashioned service, reports Steve Hart

The uncle of a boy shot dead in Samoa has spoken of the family's grief as arrangements are made for the bubbly 5-year-old's funeral.

An English yachtsman was trying to sail across the Tasman "under the radar'' with no documents and on a boat that was not seaworthy when it sank last year, a Coroner has ruled.

An English sailor's yacht was a mess and in no state for a planned trip across the Tasman when it sank near Cape Reinga, the Coroner's court has been told.

Customs has been forced to apologise after an officer was heard saying "no more Romanians" within earshot of a Romanian couple who were then kicked out of the country.

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