It could be the end of a dream for many as migration figures show that more New Zealanders are not only staying put but others across the Tasman are coming home.

Retail sales rose 1.5pc in the September quarter, led by food-related industries - with rises in supermarket stores and food and beverage services.

Aviation Security staff are on heightened alert following the raised terror threat level and on the lookout for a range of new risks.

Millions of departing travellers could be spared the chore filling in departure cards following work done by Customs and Statistics New Zealand.

NZ's unemployment rate has fallen to a five-and-a-half year low as employers took on a growing number of migrants.

Childless couples are making up an increasingly large proportion of families - a trend that has been on the rise for more than 20 years, Statistics New Zealand says.

New residential dwelling consent data continues to be patchy, but overall, the sector is showing a strong recovery.

When Cecil Lochan settled in Mt Roskill in the mid-1970s, the Fijian-Indian was the first non-European in the street. His neighbour wasn't happy.

New Zealand's climb to 4.5 million people has been faster in the past year than it has in any other year in the past decade, according to estimates from Statistics NZ.

New Zealand retail sales rose more than expected in the second quarter, as vehicle sales volumes and values increased at the fastest pace in two years.

New Zealand's unemployment rate has dropped to a five-year low as the nation's economic growth spurs firms to take on more staff.

The highest earning households in New Zealand are in the electorate the Prime Minister lives in, according to Census figures.

Most Maori are connected to their culture, with Maori television programmes playing a crucial role, according to a new report.

A Bay of Plenty iwi is in talks with the Govt to buy state houses in its area that it says would be used to house Maori and Pakeha.

MPs at a select committee are considering a law change that would lower the drink driving limit from 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood to 50mg.

Statisticians have discovered thousands more children and the elderly living in poverty than have been reported previously.

Rising economic confidence and "aggressive" marketing techniques are seen as the driving factors behind an 8.9 million litre rise in alcohol availability last year.

A hike in rents and the general cost of living are taking the shine off a significant slowdown in rising food prices, a budgeting service says.

New Zealand's unemployment rate fell to a three-year low in the fourth quarter of 2013 as jobs growth beat expectations.