Prime Minister John Key says he doesn't know why Act deputy leader Heather Roy was rolled but says it won't destabilise the Act and National support arrangement.

Raising the alcohol purchase age from 18 to 20 will be a conscience vote for the National Party, but an addiction specialist says either way, it will not change NZ's drinking culture.

Raising the alcohol purchase age from 18 to 20 will be a conscience vote for National MPs.

The Act Party has dumped Heather Roy as its deputy leader and voted first-term MP John Boscawen to the position.

A truck and trailer unit carrying chemicals and general goods has rolled and blocked southland lanes on State Highway 1.

A caucus meeting where minister Heather Roy is expected to be dumped by her parliamentary colleagues as deputy leader of Act is under way.

An 18-year-old was left with multiple fractures to his legs when he was hit by a car while crossing a pedestrian crossing in Porirua yesterday.

Lock Tom Donnelly admits a less-than-accurate display against Australia has sent the All Blacks back in front of their computer screens.

A machete-wielding man was shot with a Taser stun gun after threatening police in Lower Hutt last night.

Wellington coroner Ian Smith has called for a review of the Privacy Act in his findings on the suicide of a young university student two years ago.

Janet Moses died as a result of accidental drowning by way of manslaughter, Wellington regional coroner Ian Smith has found.

Alarming administration errors led to confusion over which of an elderly woman's legs needed surgery and her being sent home, dying days later.