I can understand why Prime Minister Bill English has decided not to go to Te Tii Marae for Waitangi Day celebrations. Mr English

COMMENT: Reliable as clockwork, and right on cue, DairyNZ stepped up to the microphone and shot themselves in the head.

Like so many of my generation, I was the first person in my family to go to university. In one way or another, though, universities

If decorating the Christmas tree is the most exciting time of the year, then felling it is surely the most gloomy. There are few

VISITORS: Eric Hoyeau and wife Anne Konitz in front of Sir Tristram House, the beach bach of Sir Patrick Hogan, who they were hosted

What a nightmare it was driving down State Highway 29a after the Bay Dreams event. I got a phone call from my younger brother on

While I was out surfing (well, attempting to surf) this week I was reminded of just how powerful the ocean is. The surf was small

Imagine being called Anal, 3rd, Lucifer or 4real. Eleven Kiwi babies have narrowly escaped being called by such awful names. And

The baying of young males on the wind, and the distant, delighted squeals of young girls on the pull, told me the New Year was imminent

Reading the stories of ordinary Kiwis who have gone on to achieve great things is always a highlight for me. This week five Bay residents

POPULARITY POLLING: It is a fair bet that the experts will be anxiously analysing how Steven Joyce rates in his new job as Minister

The new year seemed to be welcomed in a sensible but celebratory style by most over the weekend. That's exactly the way it should

Former BBC DJ Andy Kershaw is down the bottom of the garden eating worms, on the receiving end of the fury of George Michael fans

COMMENT: As we head into another sweltering Kiwi summer, the water quality of our lakes, rivers and streams will continue to disappoint and enrage.

The All Blacks may have cleaned up at the IRB Rugby Awards for 2016, but - for the British sporting press - the year belonged to England. Not

Two tragic water-related deaths over the past week have put a spotlight on the perils associated with our coastlines, lakes and waterways. Yesterday

Kids love toys, technology, flashy things, things that make loud noises and things that sparkle. Their wee eyes light up when they

Santa's sack is empty - much like our credit cards and staff canteens, but our pukus and our memories of 2016 are full, like the rich

It's difficult to comprehend why the Waikato Regional Council felt the need to stand down a harbourmaster for successfully saving

COMMENT: We're entering that time of year when I remind people to be kind to atheists. Remember, Christmas capitalism has room for all of us.

It's hard to believe Christmas is now less than a week away. I love Christmas and am counting down the days. I love being able to

What's in a name? Plenty. Especially when it's given to a new human in front of their closest family and friends. I did my first

There was much speculation about the potential impact of the new loan-to-value ratios (LVR) when they were announced earlier this

With Christmas Day just a week away it is that time of year when many people overindulge in food and alcohol only to regret it early

Stop the clock. Do you long to stop it or smash it each December? A friend who's celebrating her 50th birthday this week remarked

Right now I am one with the people of Yiwu, China where most of the world's Christmas tat is made, who may be said to cry with one

While Christmas is meant to be a time of happiness and joy, the lead-up to the big day can be stressful, tiring and downright frantic

The focus of Government Ministers at present is very much on developing, and then rolling out, support packages for people affected

COMMENT: Air NZ announced it was pulling out of Whanganui. It sent a powerful message that Whanganui was not worthy of our national carrier's munificence.

The emergence of Bill English as National party leader and, therefore as Prime Minister, was in some ways almost a non-event. It did