Jenna Todd of Time Out Bookstore reviews The Friday Afternoon Club: A Family Memoir by Griffin Dunne published by Allen & Unwin

What is it about mermaids? They appear throughout history, from legends and books to film and even on your Starbucks cup.

Australia correspondent Chris Niesche details how the Liberal Party managed to miss a deadline to file election nominations in New South Wales - meaning more than 100 candidates won't be able to run for council.

Annafinau Tukuitoga is a trailblazing bluegrass musician from Paeroa who is inspiring other Pasifika youth, both inside and outside of music.

University of Auckland law lecturer Alex Allen-Franks is keenly awaiting the outcome of a case that has been before the Supreme Court - where a passenger in a car that was pulled over, had his photo taken by the police, and the picture was then linked to a robbery for which he was charged.

Tairawhiti's largest GP practice has closed its books to new patients and will no longer open at weekends or afterhours.

The Warriors' home ground will be known as Shaun Johnson Stadium this week as the club honours its departing playmaker.Johnson will make the last NRL playing appearance at his Auckland home ground when the Warriors host the Canterbury Bulldogs on Friday night. his 223rd match for the club.

Lily Clague grew up on a sheep station in West Otago - a place so remote Gore was considered a thriving metropolis.

The Penlink highway to improve a new state highway between the Whangaparaoa Peninsula and central Auckland is going to take until at least 2028 to complete - two years later than originally forecast.

Tess has been covering the inquest into Lachlan Jones' death.