A South American drug syndicate appears to be targeting New Zealand, with the amount of seized cocaine this year increasing more than 10-fold on two years ago, says Customs.

Cocaine has become the trendy drug of choice and the the number of smugglers from South America caught at the border is rising.

A Japanese couple involved in smuggling nearly 6kg of methamphetamine into NZ were today jailed for today jailed for 7-1/2 years.

New Zealand Customs has modified rules surrounding packages coming into the country following the recent discovery of explosives found in parcels being posted to the US.

An Iranian arrested at Auckland Airport was allegedly found with 1.4kg of concealed and swallowed in about 185 small latex "pellets".

A young man drowned in the Grey River in an attempt to avoid a drink-driving conviction, Coroner Richard McElrea has told an inquest.

NZers can now have their say on whether the South Ridge of Aoraki Mount Cook should be renamed as 'Hillary Ridge'. The Geographic Board today opened a three month-public consultation.

There it is: process, process, process. It is a fundamental requirement of natural justice that a person is entitled to know exactly what is being alleged, by whom, and is afforded a real and fair opportunity to respond.

Almost $100 would be cut off a return airfare to Australia under one airline's plan to simplify transtasman travel.

A Customs broker has been charged with helping smuggle drugs worth up to $17 million.