Small is beautiful, but it can also be precarious, and New Zealand will need to work hard to stay in the Prosperity Index's top five. Rod McNaughton.

New Zealand has been rated the fifth most prosperous nation to live in, according to an international report.

City's unemployment at lowest level since 2011 with average pay up to $1135 a week, writes Anne Gibson.

Christchurch's population has predictably slumped since the earthquakes, but many people have moved to outlying areas, Census figures reveals.

Reduced growth figures suggest revision of Auckland's infrastructure plans needed, claims Statistics Minister.

New Zealanders work longer hours than the average of their peers in other developed countries but produce a fifth less, a new report finds.

The New Zealand population aged 65 and over has doubled since the early 1980s and is likely to double again by 2040, Statistics New Zealand says.

Auckland is unique because few cities can claim to be both a world-class urban centre and a beautiful garden city with so much scope for outdoor activities, writes Sudhir Rajagopalan.

Natalie Jackson's presentation about ageing to Local Government NZ's annual conference in Hamilton this week was a sobering look into the future, says Bernard Hickey.

The idea that New Zealand has become one of the most unequal societies in the developed world is just not supported by the data, writes Brian Fallow.

A Hamilton radio personality - sick of his fiance being leered at and heckled - wants action to address antisocial behaviour in the central city's plaza.

The news on the population front sounds bad: birth rates are not dropping as fast as expected.

New Zealand is one of the very few countries to have total control over immigration. We have no boat people, few asylum seekers, writes David Blaker.

Barring some unforeseen catastrophe, we certainly will grow from 1.5 million citizens to over 2.5 million by mid century, writes Graeme Easte.

The Auckland Council is talking up another one million residents in the city by 2041, but it is taking a prudent line when it comes to providing services.

An issue at the heart of Auckland's draft unitary plan is whether the density of housing should be raised in parts of the city.

New Zealanders are beginning to realise the Australian dream is not so perfect and the grass may in fact be starting to become greener over here.

Seattle's an economic engine, a leader in sustainability and a hub for culture and creativity, writes Dr Ann Bartos and John Mauro. It could easily be Auckland.

We have a huge growth challenge in our city, but with that challenge we have an equally great opportunity, writes Auckland mayoral candidate Joe Palino.

The draft plan and the housing accord have led to fear, uncertainty and distrust in both the process and in those promulgating the plan, writes Christine Rose.

Editorial: Naturally enough, the Government was keen to put the entire blame for what happened on "politicking" by Labour and the Greens.

Auckland Council's draft Unitary Plan is under attack as people engage with its implications for their backyards and neighbourhoods, writes Joel Cayford. The question confronting city planners and councillors should be how to fix the plan,

Who wants another million people in Auckland? Len Brown does. Auckland City Councillors do. Auckland town planners do. The Government does. I don't, writes Bryan Jackson.