Current planning laws are “explicitly designed to drive up housing values”, Finance Minister says.

GUEST COMMENT: Studies show no great benefit from public funding, such as the programme our government is poised to unveil in a fortnight.

GUEST COMMENT Budget 2013 makes good progress in reducing New Zealand's debt, but lacks the big ideas for driving growth. Here are 10:

HIDESIGHT I believed people couldn’t be left alone to do as they please: they were too greedy, the market too capricious, resources too precious and the planet too fragile.

MOTORING This is a tale of two Honda Accords.

Those who oppose voluntary euthanasia argue the sanctity of human life; Roughan seems to argue the sanctity of human flesh.

Here’s the best of the best in Wellington and Auckland, from $1 million-plus homes to CBD apartments to city-fringe retreats.

GUEST COMMENT: For anyone planning to resell their downloaded digital music, the Capitol Records LLCv ReDigi Inc decision in the US may leave a ringing in your ears.

Airbus A350 unveiled | Tahiti revamps business class | Swiss returns to Changi | Air NZ adds Nouméa, drops Osaka

War Witch is an extraordinary African tale of 14-year-old Komona, who is plucked from her village by local freedom fighters.

GUEST COMMENT: The High Court this week clarified another piece of the wreckage from Mainzeal’s collapse.

Turnover of $247m included Quadrant Private Equity's sale of 14% of Summerset Group for about $89m.