Snail salons' slimy secret

The quest for beauty's taken on a rather sluggish quality in Japan, with salons in Tokyo now using snail slime.

• Young boy's new mentor

  Reporter Dan Parker has the update on Harrison's new buddy.

• Majority of Kiwis happy with lives - survey

  The results show 87 percent of the population are 'satisfied' or 'very satisfied' with their lives overall.

• No plans for do-it-yourself HIV test in NZ

  People in the UK will soon be able to test for the HIV virus from their own homes.

• Vintage dresses sold from woman's estate

  A special vintage clothing sale attracted hundreds of keen shoppers in west Auckland this morning.

• Fat boy turns slim

  Blake von Rooy is a boy who knows what it's like to battle the bulge.

• Auckland butcher crowned bacon king

  The best bacon and ham in the country has been named this morning.

• Ox Man: Auckland teacher faces rare cancer, rare treatment

  When Rodney Gordon was diagnosed with the most aggressive form of prostate cancer, it shocked his entire school community. It also shocked doctors.

• The health effects of a cold home

  NZ has among the highest rates of respiratory disease in the developed world because so many of us live in cold and poorly insulated properties.

• More restaurants growing their own produce

  Hyper local is a growing trend among restaurants overseas, where restaurants grow their own produce, and it's starting to take root in New Zealand.

• Lab-grown burger falls short on taste

  Two volunteers who took the first public bites of hamburger grown in a laboratory gave it good marks for texture but agreed there was something missing.

• Meeting Auckland's new baby giraffe

  Auckland zoo welcomed a new arrival at the weekend, a baby giraffe.

• The best job in the world - beer tasting

  The very best craft beer connoisseurs are in Christchurch for the weekend, as the New Zealand International Beer Awards kick off.

• Leaders urged to embrace silence

  While a little silence may sound like bliss, spending an entire day without sound is more of a challenge.

• Corset comeback has doctors worried

  A growing number of women are wearing corsets all day, every day, in a desperate bid to reduce their waist size.

• NZ youth behaving less dangerously a study

  A report released today says Kiwi high school students are taking fewer risks when it comes to alcohol, drugs and other risky behaviour.

• Diabetics angered by new Pharmac monitors

  Hundreds of diabetics are concerned at the new blood testing meters introduced by the Government's drug-buying agency Pharmac.

• Surgeon outlines evolution of skin tone

  An Auckland skin surgeon will this week launch a book that's almost certain to shine a light on the subject of race relations.

• Sweet memories at Regina's Lolly Factory

  There are a lot of sweet memories at Regina's Lolly Factory for the Diver family.

• Dunedin Chocolate Festival serves up tasty events

  This year Dunedins Chocolate Carnival is dishing up a range of tasty events.

• Coca Cola attempting to stop obesity

  Starting tonight a new Coca Cola ad will run across all free-to-air television channels aimed at showing the company's commitment to addressing obesity.