Food prices are continuing to rise but have steadied after reaching record highs last year. Milk and cheese have become cheaper.

Pak'nSave has topped the list of the country's cheapest supermarkets - for the 10th year running.

New World and Four Square stores in Auckland have axed their 5c charge on plastic bags.

Licensing tobacco retailers and turning cigarette packs into plain packages bearing only health warnings is among five new proposals to reduce smoking.