These are the high points from Labour and Greens' State of the Nation speeches this afternoon.

Epic brewer-owner Luke Nicholas found out recently, there is a degree of fame to be found at the bottom of a bottle.

Miss Universe New Zealand is winning hearts in her mother's homeland - being voted one of the people's favourites.

Composer Tan Dun combines classical music with smart phones, writes William Dart

The story of the Chinese in New Zealand will be seen in a new museum exhibition.

William Dart finds a "dark, bleak history" unfolding in a superb new classical CD.

Chinese, English and Maori opera tells a striking story.

Contemporary comic puts quiet achievers in the picture.

The highly controversial state-house replica work of art is set to open. Sculptor Michael Parekowhai's $1.5 million work entitled

James Griffin is not a fan of Filthy Rich and Dirty Laundry, two major TVNZ shows that launched last year.

The University of Canterbury has revealed its new post-earthquake design.

Miriama McDowell's new theatre roles see her combining Shakespeare with the local prison system

A Tauranga barber will travel the length of the country to promote Lifeline and stop the stigma surrounding mental health. Made with funding from NZ On Air.

New Year may be done and dusted for many Kiwis, but for Chinese New Zealanders like Tiffany Shan, it is still a week to go before they celebrate New Year.

Kiwi opera star Madeleine Pierard was studying to be a doctor when composer Jack Body inspired her to sing instead.

A few words with artist Dick Frizzell.

After the loss of a galaxy of music stars, Steve Braunias looks at ghosts surrounding the last two Beatles.

The ASB Classic has proven to be a smash hit for fans and charity alike. More than $15,000 is set to be donated to Ronald McDonald

Auckland Arts Festival chief executive David Inns sees up to 150 shows a year around the world and does the deals to bring them to New Zealand.

New Zealand crowds 'not as spoiled' as the rest of the world, say chart-toppers.

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

A Waikato couple are "gutted" over the loss of their twins' placentas, stolen from their meat freezer.

Supermarket cake and awkwardly enduring your colleagues singing Happy Birthday are a rite of passage for any employee but now there are calls to ban the ritual.

Every year dozens of protected New Zealand objects leave the country for good. Here's what some of them are.

NZ on Screen has released its top 10 legendary Kiwi party anthems.

All Black lock Patrick Tuipulotu will take on a fresh challenge in the new year, having been named a family chief in Samoa this week. The

We're looking back on some of our favourite big reads from TimeOut this year. Today, we revisit Karl Puschmann's opinion piece on what to watch when TV is just too much.

Design writer Douglas Lloyd Jenkins has been a Herald, Listener and Home magazine contributor and hosted The Big Art Trip on television.

Steve Braunias looks back on a year of thinking dangerously.

Auckland Airport is giving $120,000 to 12 charities as part of its annual 12 days of Christmas. The Herald is profiling each initiative.