Some situations make me reflect on the endorsement a newspaper gives to a person, and the acknowledgement of their efforts as a matter of record. writes Andrew Bonnallack.

Police Minister Michael Woodhouse is right to question the official police road safety messages over the Christmas-New Year period, writes Kim Gillespie.

It used to take a lot to be a hero - slaying a dragon, swimming to Australia, rescuing a child from a crevasse as deep as the Empire State Building, things like that.

If you've been filling up at the gas station watching your car consume the equivalent of the week's grocery bill - and wishing you could spend the money on something else.

Northland's five New Year Honours recipients provide plenty of inspiration for anyone considering becoming more involved in their community.