As the UK turns dark, cold, and wet, here are our top tips to help you get through the winter months with a smile on your face, a tissue up your nose, and a stomach full of hearty British goodness.

• Valentines Day in London
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• Waitangi Day Charity Ball 2014 in London

DNA testing is the most scientific means of establishing whether people are biologically related. Various DNA tests and genetic analyses are readily available, giving us unprecedented insights into our own health or our genetic relationship to other people.

• Navy divers find WWII mines off NZ coast
• Pacific kids tend to be more depressed
• NZ lake could light up a city

New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor might have missed the last memorable home Test of the summer but has scooped the country’s top cricket awards.

• Paralympic debut could prove inspirational
• Winter finals set the pitches alight!
• All Whites unveil young side to face Japan

London-based New Zealander Gavin Harrington-Odedra’s dark and seductive adaptation of Shakespeare’s Richard III is a fitting tribute to the bard in the 450th anniversary year of his birth.

• Dame Kiri calls time on opera career
• AC/DC drummer cleared on pilot charge
• NZ Society UK Charity Ball raises £13,500 for charitable fund

Spain, Turkey, the Canaries or Greece: are you fed up of your regular holiday haunts? Why not consider some great destinations that you’ve never looked into before?

• Topdeck earlybird savings on Australia and New Zealand
• Think deeper, fly cheaper
• Bangkok and its markets: where to visit?

From the wide open spaces of Australia’s remote outback to the splendour of New Zealand’s snow-capped mountains, Topdeck offers over 20 adventures through Australasia taking you to both major spots and off the beaten track.

• Get the best travel deals

The Student Loan Scheme Amendment Bill (No. 3), introduced in August 2013, passed its final stages in Parliament today.

• Kiwi hits highs against major currencies
• New tax legislation delivers clarity and fairness
• Temporary stay of execution on foreign pension transfers

If you are new to London, things might be a bit weird at first. But the clubbing scene should never confuse you. Go east for the cool kids, go south for the cooler kids and co city centre if you are a rich kid ready to have a good time.

• Tips for Living Abroad For the First Time
• Some financial and health insurance tips for prospective expat Kiwis
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