All the great sporting franchises, teams, sportsmen and women are constantly looking for an edge; the small percentages that add up to big gains.

A Kiwi diver was dragged behind a humpback whale as he tried to free it from a tangle of commercial fishing gear in Fijian waters.

The former mistress of Auckland Mayor Len Brown wants failed mayoral candidate John Palino to front up about an alleged plan to bring down the mayor.

The Royal New Zealand Navy has refused to say whether sailor Grenville McFarland has been stood down from service while on bail.

A 27-year-old has appeared in court in connection with an attack on a trainee primary teacher who died in Auckland hospital this morning.

A Swedish extreme-altitude skier who plunged 600m to his death near the peak of Aoraki-Mt Cook had set a new record on the mountain just days earlier.

Auckland has only 10 service stations wired up to provide fuel to emergency services quickly if electricity is cut in a natural disaster.

The mother of a young man brutally assaulted in central Auckland was by his bedside last night praying for a miracle, but had already forgiven his attacker.

A man who spent 119 days lost at sea is urging NZ authorities to continue the hunt for the Nina, saying he's living proof people can survive against the odds.

New Zealand winemakers could stand to benefit from a global shortage of wine, a new report says.

Rutger Hale and Danielle Oylear's love story began with a chance meeting in a bar, but it was a cruel twist that tore them apart, his funeral service was told yesterday.

Concerns are being raised over the number of mental health patients placed under compulsory treatment.

Claims that Australian embassies are involved in intercepting calls and data across Asia will be causing "anxiety and concern" for New Zealand's GCSB and its partners in the United States-led "Five Eyes" intelligence group.

A grieving mother is pleading with parents never to leave their young children alone in water after her infant son drowned in a bath.

The couple who bought the winning home on TV3's The Block live in China and have never seen the show.

David Cunliffe's leadership will be put to an early test at the Labour Party conference this weekend as he mediates between two divergent forces in the party on the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

He was kicked out of secondary school and doesn't believe students should receive marks.

Murray Deaker, an undisputed giant of sports broadcasting, has blown the final whistle on his career of more than 20 years.

One of NZ's largest home builders says new loan restrictions have cost it 24 new-home builds in the first month alone - and it expects more as the policy bites.

When the British tried to break a young Robert Mugabe, they piped cricket commentary into his cell. There's probably a good reason they chose that sport.

In need of an extensive paint job and a garden makeover, this run-down three-bedroom Grey Lynn villa has sold for $1.215 million.

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

A "carrot" rather than a stick should be used to encourage people to move to ultra-fast broadband and keeping slower internet prices higher is the wrong way to get them to switch.

Heavyweight boxer David Tua talks to nzherald.co.nz Video Producer Steven Orsbourn about the challenge of the Ustinov fight, the comparisons to the Lennox Lewis title fight with a pre-fight injury and the tactics of fighting a much larger and higher ranked pugilist; and what happens if he loses the David v Goliath bout to resurrect his career.

In a candid interview, former international cricketer Lou Vincent opens up about the mental health issues he faced while representing his country.

An Auckland man is furious his pre-approved home loan was withdrawn less than 24 hours after he called his bank and was assured the deal was sound.

Len Brown spoke of the love and support of his wife Shan Inglis after being sworn in as Mayor of Auckland last night, but there was little connection between the pair.

A controversial image of a strike-breaker will be removed from a waterfront history panel and replaced with a wharfie.

In part one of a two part interview Air NZ chief executive Christopher Luxon talks to Business Herald aviation reporter Grant Bradley about changes he has introduced. Part two will address the Government sell down and arrival of the 787.