COMMENT: While the proposal is good in theory, it's no panacea for the challenges of our modern economy.

COMMENT: Forward planning for walking and cycling in urban areas hasn't previously been great.

New Zealand's booming migration and tourism set new records in November, with arrivals continuing to increase and departures steadily lower.

Less than half of young renters voted at the last election, and more than 90 per cent of property owners over the age of 50 voted.

Bill English delivered a few surprises in his first media appearance, including poetry, a u-turn on gay marriage and a nod to the trade unions.

Water supply levels in both Franz Josef and Fox Glacier are being monitored as the tourist season ramps up again.

COMMENT: Targeted immigration can be good for an economy. It can bring in new ideas, cultures and increased entrepreneurship.

Eighteen per cent of GP clinics closed their books to new patients

Almost all of New Zealand has had a "hotspot" feeling to it this year, but one part of Auckland is about to boom with 254 per cent growth.

COMMENT: It's often said that through our innovations in science, agriculture and medicine humans have become masters of our biological destiny.

There is an urgent need for "culturally appropriate" elder care, and an Indian trust says having ethnic wards at existing rest homes is the way to go.

Rising employment, low inflation and a recovery in the dairy sector point to robust economic growth.

Political Roundup: Will next year's general election be shaken up by rising populism?

Hospital admissions for intentional self-harm rose 4.6% from 2004 to 2013.

What is political populism? Here's an explanation of the new anti-Establishment politics, as well as ten reasons why a popular revolt could happen in NZ.

COMMENT: New Zealand has so far escaped the issues faced by other countries with large influxes of people coming across their borders.

Experts say house crisis is driving us towards a tale of two Aucklands, where the only homeowners will be those who are left the family home by parents.

New Zealand's unemployment rate fell below 5 per cent for the first time since December 2008.

Fast-growing councils, including Auckland, will be required to free up land for housing under a policy signed off by the Government today.

COMMENT: A look at this week's new population projections should give Phil Goff and his council a sobering reminder of the massive task ahead of them.

Auckland is bracing itself for an additional 700,000 people in the next 30 years.

New Zealand's population is predicted to hit 5 million in about 2020 and could reach this milestone sooner.

Bill English announced a bigger surplus than expected as a growing economy underpinned by population delivered a bigger tax take than anticipated.

Investors need to consider the increasing debt being taken on by some retirement village operators, according to a report.

Rural New Zealand is facing a GP shortage as the current workforce ages.

An infestation of rats has hit Australia's biggest city, and it's human's fault. We created the conditions for them to thrive.

New Zealand's net migration rose in the year through August, returning to the record set in the June year.

As all the jobs and big-smoke buzz centres on Auckland, the regions are trying to find a way to carry on, writes Russell Blackstock.

COMMENT: NZ better than many, but future is clouded says visiting scholar

COMMENT: Every generation feels misunderstood by the generation that preceded it. At the moment it is the turn of Millennials.