All Blacks great Dan Carter has appeared in a short video alongside a host of other high-profile Kiwis encouraging New Zealanders to vote for change in the upcoming flag referendum.

"I continue to have faith in the American people. And I think they realise that being president of the United States is a serious job. It’s not hosting a talk show," Obama said at a news conference in Rancho Mirage, California.

The NZ flag change referendum is once again in the celebrity spotlight after a shout-out from an actor on The Big Bang Theory.

Comedian John Oliver regularly takes satirical swipes at New Zealand on his HBO show 'Last Week Tonight'.

NZ Herald talks to Victoria Crone, former New Zealand managing director of Xero about her run for the Auckland mayoralty.

Prime Minister John Key has today outlined a plan to make an early start on the main works of the $2.5 billion city rail link in 2018.

President Barack Obama says Australia has been "consistent and extraordinarily effective" fighting the Islamic State group.

In the final days before the first votes are cast, Hillary Clinton emphasised her desire to build on what Obama has achieved with domestic policy.

"This is a man who is interviewing for the most important job in the world. His words are not funny, his words are poisonous."

Prime Minister John Key tells Newstalk ZB's Leighton Smith he believes Kyle Lockwood's silver fern with blue and black could win in March's second flag referendum.

Prime Minister John Key tells Newstalk ZB's Leighton Smith Jonah Lomu was a guy who gave "enormously" and perhaps it's time for us to give back.

The school students who took a petition calling for a commemoration day for the New Zealand Wars say they will continue to fight for the recognition even if their efforts today are fruitless.

Prime Minister John Key has repeatedly assured detainees that they can return to New Zealand and still have their appeal processed in exactly the same way as if they remained in detention. Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull made that assurance to Mr Key. As a result, detainees have voluntarily started to return to New Zealand, including the so-called "Con Air" charter plane, carrying Kiwis previously held on Christmas Island. One has a manslaughter conviction.

Judith Collins will return to Cabinet and get her corrections and police portfolios back. John Key says after a year on the backbenches he believes she'll do a good job on the police and corrections portfolios.

Labour leader Andrew Little has taken the ultimate photo-op risk by going skydiving. Mr Little did a tandem skydive from 19,000 feet above the Franz Josef Glacier today to help launch a new kea conservation programme promoted by Skydive Franz and the Kea Conservation Trust.

A public service for Jonah Lomu will be held at Eden Park on Monday, Prime Minister John Key has announced. "This service will be open to all members of the public who want to remember the significant contribution Jonah made, not only to rugby here and overseas, but also to the wider community through his work with charities such as Unicef and Kidney Kids NZ."

The Prime Minister has hit out at Labour leader Andrew Little’s trip to Canberra to lobby for expat Kiwi’s rights - claiming the visit could jeopardise progress being made through quiet diplomacy.

Prime Minister John Key addresses the media after today's terror attacks in France, saying 'the information is not very fluid at this point' and there are a lot of unaccounted for people. He advises Kiwis in France to make contact with their families.

Prime Minister John Key has accused the Labour Party of "backing rapists" in an extraordinary attack in Parliament this afternoon.

Prime Minister John Key said it was likely New Zealanders were involved in the riots, but he did not have official confirmation of that. "My office has had an update...we're obviously aware of what's taking place there. It's a difficult situation to get all the facts on," he said. "My understanding is that there could be a small number of New Zealanders involved but we haven't been advised of any injuries to New Zealanders."

New Zealanders involved in riots at a Christmas Island detention centre could be harming any chance they had of staying in Australia, Prime Minister John Key says.

New Zealand plans to table a resolution at the United Nations Security Council to end a new wave of violence between Israelis and Palestinians. Foreign Minister Murray McCully said the draft resolution would also reiterate the security council's commitment to a two-state solution. Addressing the council this morning (NZ time), Mr McCully said a formal resolution had not been made by the UNSC on the issue for six years. Supplied: UNSC

The Government has pulled off its promised surplus for the 2014/15 year after Crown accounts released today confirmed a $414 million surplus - a turnaround from the forecast deficit in May's Budget. Video: Mark Mitchell

Helen Kelly has delivered her last major speech as Council of Trade Unions president - receiving a standing ovation at the union's conference after a fiery address.

Prime Minister John Key says the Trans Pacific Partnership will not technically prevent a future Labour Government from banning the sale of residential properties to foreigners.

Wellington City's Mayor is showing her support for a flag change by raising the five alternatives above the Wellington Town Hall. Video: Josh Price

A powerful cyber-attack has targeted certain officials in a government department in a possible effort to access sensitive information.

The final four alternative flag designs are to be released - with Prime Minister John Key saying he could vote for three of them over the current flag.

Protesters jostled with police last night as they tried to disrupt a National Party fundraising event in Dunedin. Trans Pacific Partnership opponents hoped Prime Minister John Key would enter through the Savoy restaurant's public entrance, but it is understood he used another door. Mr Key had earlier been guest of honour at the Otago Daily Times Class Act event at the Dunedin Public Art Gallery in the Octagon. Source: ODT

Councils will be able to decide whether retailers can open on Easter Sunday.