A global survey has found New Zealanders relatively content with our lives as the world emerges from the financial crisis.

A stunt featuring former All Blacks Jeff Wilson and Josh Kronfeld backfired in Auckland yesterday, sending a BMX rider face-first into the water.

The world's most wanted whistleblower, Edward Snowden, has told us something from his refuge in Russia that we had a right to know.

There have been many innovative and creative watches over the years. Remember the Casio calculator watch? Here are 10 creative and innovative watches.

A Feilding couple were stunned to learn they'd won $7.2 million after checking their Lotto ticket during Saturday night's All Blacks-Springboks test match.

All Blacks including Dan Carter and Richie McCaw could receive a windfall from a proposed mega-merger of 19 privately-owned retirement villages.

Kanye West has come up with his defence for asking a wheelchair user and a concertgoer with a prosthetic leg to stand up during his concert in Sydney on Friday.

A University of Queensland study has discovered a positive attitude can improve your immune system and may even help you live longer.

As part of an epic 3600km road trip, two Kiwi blokes will be soaked in icy water, do hot laps, fight paintball battles and even play a spot of 20/20 cricket, all in the name of charity.

A former violinist, whose career was cut short by a debilitating movement disorder, regained her ability to play while surgeons in Israel operated on her brain.

Ancillary revenue on top of airline ticket prices has soared by 1200 per cent in the last seven years.

Kanye West stopped a performance in Sydney to demand everyone in the audience stand up and dance - unless they had a 'handicap pass'.

Paul Casserly examines the performances of several news networks as the election reaches its climax.

Bereaved Millie Elder-Holmes has a furry new companion to help her heal after the death of boyfriend Connor Morris.

It has been 21 tests since anyone beat the All Blacks - 36 since they lost at home and there is no debate on whether they are the mentally toughest.

Once considered the country's most expensive penthouse, which played host to America's Next Top Model and has the nation's highest swimming pool, is back on the market.

Judge Thokozile Masipa was contemptuous of Pistorius' snot and tears during his performance on the stand, writes Kerre McIvor.

Grammy winner Jemaine Clement says some of his earliest New Zealand TV roles left him "ashamed" after "running down" his Maori culture.

The team at TV3 comedy show 7 Days has redesigned political billboards as part of its own election campaign.

Since CarAds launched at the beginning of the year, it has paid about 50 drivers to display business signs on their cars.

Michael Burgess crunched the numbers to reveal which major political party has overseen the most sporting triumphs during the past 40 years.

Watchers of the big watchmakers are beginning to worry that the good times for "dumb" watches are running out.

So they ducked under Dirty Politics. Kim Dotcom's already admitting his bombshell is more of a soggy sparkler. And David Cunliffe's not exactly dicing his opponent into whale meat.