New Zealand is in for a long, hot summer as La Nina hits our shores, says the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Niwa).

Gagarin Way is about current political apathy; nonetheless it expects its audience to have a wee bit of political awareness, particularly vis-a-vis 20th century British history.

At least one tiny corner of the US housing market appears to be thriving.

What the international media is saying about North Korea's latest act of aggression.

The disease has begun to infect residents of the capital's densely populated tent cities, where more than a million people are still living.

Barack Obama has thrown his support behind India becoming a permanent member of the UN Security Council.

New Zealand is the third-best country to live in the world, according to the latest United Nations index, which is aimed at measuring development.

NZ is the third best country to live in the world, climbing 17 places in the latest United Nations' index aimed at measuring development.

After 18 years of debate and two weeks of talks delegates from 190 countries have agreed on a treaty to halt the mass extinction of species.

Groundbreaking new research puts a price tag on our natural resources.

Leaders of the main moderate Palestinian factions have voted to oppose further negotiations while building continues in Jewish settlements.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully has emphasised NZ's security and development role in the Pacific in a speech to the United Nations.