He never intended to be a performer - let alone become a superstar - but Richard Clayderman has outsold Bob Dylan, Coldplay, Adele, Jay Z and Lady Gaga. Today, his distinctive piano reinterpretations of familiar tunes from every era and genre are still heard in every corner of the world.

New Zealand First says the Budget does little to help struggling New Zealanders off the treadmill of high costs and low wages and uses asset sales to blur the real state of the economy.

Auckland Mayor Len Brown has welcomed the introduction of legislation for housing accords, but says he will be seeking clarification on a number of points to ensure the final legislation is consistent with the draft Auckland Housing Accord.

Pre-budget talk of a big focus on child poverty has proven to be nothing more than hot air, with budget announcements falling well short of what is needed to help the 250,000 New Zealand kids that live in poverty, says Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei.

Today’s Budget announcement glaringly omits addressing the cost of earthquake strengthening New Zealand’s buildings.

Budget 2013 invests $40 million over the next four years in marketing and promoting New Zealand’s international education industry, as the country targets doubling the value of international education to $5 billion by 2025.

Maintaining cannabis prohibition in New Zealand is estimated to cost the taxpayer $500 million annually.

National is meddling with ACC levies to try sugar a budget that does little for ordinary New Zealanders.

As part of today’s budget announcements ACC Minister Judith Collins said there would be levy reductions of around $300 million for 2014/15, reaching $1 billion in 2015/16.

After 13 years developing contemporary performance and cultivating new audiences, Shane Bosher has announced his departure as Artistic Director of Silo, finishing his tenure in April 2014.

Long term under-funding of tertiary education since 2009 is taking away opportunities to learn from students and future students, say TEU national secretary Sharn Riggs, upon hearing news that the tertiary education budget will stagnate more than $400 million below than 2009 funding levels.

CPAG is looking to the Government for a strong indication that it now appreciates the scale and tragedy of child poverty in New Zealand.

A further investment of $188.6 million for the next stage of welfare reform will ensure beneficiaries get more intensive support to move from welfare to work, Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says.

New Zealand First Leader Rt Hon Winston Peters’ Reserve Bank bill was again drawn from the Members’ Bill Ballot today.

Budget 2013 will target overseas-based student loan borrowers with new initiatives to increase repayments and reduce defaulting, Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce and Revenue Minister Peter Dunne say.

Budget 2013 makes fundamental changes to the way the Government delivers housing assistance to those most in need, Housing Minister Nick Smith and Social Development Minister Paula Bennett say.

The Melbourne Vixens aim to put the Queensland Firebirds’ flame out early in the must-win clash this Sunday.

Yahoo! New Zealand today announced the appointment of a new senior management team promoting Marcus Forbes to the role of General Manager, Media and Louis Niven to the role of General Manager, Sales for Yahoo! New Zealand.

Auckland will from October become the first airport outside Emirates’ Dubai hub to have three scheduled Airbus A380 aircraft on the ground at one time when the airline introduces the double-decker aircraft on its daily Dubai route via Brisbane.

UNICEF NZ is asking people to be wary of phone calls which ask for large sums of money on behalf of the charity or request a donation in return for a large sum of money.

The Roxy won a Gold Award at the New Zealand Commercial Project Awards held in Auckland on Saturday night (11 May 2013).