New figures show a sharp rise in gambling problems linked to Lotto, and health officials blame big jackpots.

In the heart of the Waikato, a small health provider dared to step out from the pack. Lotto, warned Hauora Waikato, has dangers.

The amount of money dropped into New Zealand pokie machines fell by more than 3 per cent last year, according to new Government figures.

The public health experts who once led SkyCity's problem gambling programme say the casino doesn't do enough to prove they stop punters becoming addicts.

New Zealanders lost a record $2.07 billion gambling last year with bets totalling more than $16 billion - or more than $3600 for every man, woman and child.

A woman who "ruthlessly exploited" her elderly neighbour by nearly draining her bank account to play pokie machines says she is happy with her sentence.

Pubs and bars are pushing for a gambling law change to allow them to take a profit on pokie machines, reducing the amount that gets paid back to the community.

The organisers of Lotto say they will review safety on the set of their Saturday night television show.

Brian Rudman asks: "If a national convention centre is the vital piece of missing infrastructure to guarantee our future prosperity, why are they shackling it to the whims of a gambling empire?"

New Zealand First representation for Tauranga will now be shared by leader Winston Peters and the party's other MPs after the expulsion of Brendan Horan.

Winston Peters has defended the expulsion of NZ First list MP Brendan Horan from the party.

A victim of Loizos Michaels clapped as the "brazen" conman was led into the cells.

The alleged conman who carried out "bold frauds on a grand scale" says he is the victim.

The alleged conman who carried out "bold frauds on a grand scale" says he is the victim.

The winner of Lotto Powerball's huge jackpot is yet to claim their prize, but the owner of the Invercargill shop it was bought in hopes they might come forward today.

New Zealand First MP Brendon Horan is under investigation, for allegedly dipping into his late mother's bank account.

The man at the centre of an alleged $3 million fraud case will discover his fate in two weeks.

Loizos Michaels convinced people to "think big" and believe in his investment plans - before he fleeced them of more than $3 million, a court has heard.

Te Puni Korkiri says it is happy with the performance of a Whanau Ora fund despite an evaluation which found $7.7 million has been distributed to families without the results being measured.

The former chief executive of Christchurch Casino had plans to take over SkyCity with backing from National Party president Peter Goodfellow, says an alleged conman.