A new year, 2016. Suddenly we are into the second half of the second decade of the 21st century.

In February, it will be five years since the collapse of the deficient Canterbury Television building in Christchurch.

The latest weapons in the police crime fighting arsenal are containers to gather samples from Auckland's wastewater treatment plants.

The law is clear. When it comes to search warrants, there is a line which protects all in society, and in some cases particularly the press.

Eventual ruling could have far-reaching implications for law governing use of the internet, from YouTube to Facebook.

It is time to recognise our common humanity, appreciate each other, and let us wish you, good readers, a happy Christmas.

Some believe the charge being set on the copper network was being artificially inflated, however there are a number of issues we need to reconsider.

The raising of interest rates by the United States Federal Reserve late last week is the best news in seven years for the world's economy.

Strange and costly things can happen to an economy when a government decides its wisdom is better than the signals of a market.

The elusive surplus has disappeared again. It is just two months since John Key and Bill English were celebrating the final figure for 2014-15, an unexpected surplus.

The latest report tells us 29 per cent of children lived in poverty in 2014, up from 24 per cent the previous year. About 14 per cent live in material hardship, lacking several of the items most New Zealanders would consider essential.

Getting so many nations, including "developing" nations such as China, to sign on to emissions reductions certainly makes the agreement historic.

Climate change may still seem a distant threat, but a "Super El Nino" summer is already evident.

The new heavyweight boxing champion of the wwooorld is going to get very boring very quickly.

Two petitions are circulating for the funding of the new immunotherapy drug against melanoma, Keytruda.

What more could a national holiday do except reopen old wounds and invite continued debate? We have enough of that around Waitangi Day.

For the past year, the Office of the Ombudsman has been reviewing the Official Information Act.

Rob Campbell, once one of the sharpest young minds in the trade union movement, has kept a lower profile since his thinking changed radically in the 1980s.

Four years have passed, another Rugby World Cup has been won, and still the "people's wharf", "party central" of 2011, languishes largely forgotten.

Pharmac is possibly the most publicly respected body in this country.

As the Prime Minister said, "It makes no sense to be calling for emissions restrictions on one hand while subsidising emissions on the other."

When Brendon McCullum testified at the trial of Chris Cairns, the defence asked why he had not come forward with his allegations much sooner than he did.

Labour leader Andrew Little has carried out a refreshing reshuffle of his parliamentary line-up.

The origin of some of our most nutritious food does not bear thinking about. Milk, eggs, even some fruit, are nutrients intended for the young of other species.

Admit it, the ballot paper is still sitting on the sideboard while you wonder what to do.

For better or worse, National's failure to raise importance of economic considerations clearly underscores the public's bottom line.

We should welcome Australian Senator Ian Macdonald's goodwill towards improved access to Australian citizenship for New Zealanders.

These disturbing contracts seem symptomatic of an unfortunate attitude that has permeated the public service under this Government. Its "no surprises" principle seeks to control the release of any information which might be awkward to explain.

Phil Goff is the instant front-runner, if not a near certainty, to be the next mayor of Auckland.