The seeds for what has become New Zealand's largest outdoor market were sown in an old supermarket car park in Christchurch 20 years ago.

Dunedin South Labour MP Clare Curran today accused Associate Social Development Minister Tariana Turia of hypocrisy and a lack of consistency in supporting a North Island teen parenting programme, while not supporting the sole Dunedin programme which now faces closure.

Nine Botany Town Centre retailers will be warming their coffee cups to dish out complimentary coffee, tea and hot chocolate when the Manukau East Shopping Shuttle returns for a fourth year in February.

25 February 2010

The chairman of the Hauraki Gulf Forum, John Tregidga, today welcomed the announcement by Minister of Conservation Hon. Kate Wilkinson that new parks and private land will be added to the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park to mark its 10th anniversary.

Housing Minister Phil Heatley and Finance Minister Bill English have today announced the line-up of the government's seven-member Housing Shareholders' Advisory Group.

Company director and global business consultancy senior partner Alan Jackson will chair the group.

Manukau Mayor Len Brown says the housing shortage in Manukau city needs to be addressed.

The Christchurch City Council's new Aranui library will be built on land in Aldershot Street, bordering on to Wainoni Park.

Child Poverty Action Group calls on the government to recognise the growing underclass identified by the Salvation Army in its latest report "The Road to Recovery".

The report highlights that 12% more children are living in workless households now than just 2 years ago.

The slowdown in the building sector has left Auckland short of at least 6000 homes, with the greatest pressure going on South Auckland households.

The Salvation Army is warning of the danger of a jobless economic recovery that threatens to further erode recent gains in alleviating child poverty.