The Government must explain why five former interpreters for the New Zealand Defence Force in Afghanistan have been excluded from resettlement in New Zealand, Labour’s Defence spokesperson Phil Goff says.

Christchurch City Council will hold community workshops as part of their Suburban Centres Programme for the recovery and rebuild of the Main Road corridor.

The claim by John Key and Judith Collins that they tried to reach consensus with political parties on changes to MMP is completely untrue, says Labour Leader David Shearer.

A pre-Budget analysis of government health expenditure prepared by the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions and released today, estimates that if last year’s increase in Vote Health was repeated this year, there will be an almost $100 million shortfall in health funding that must be met by cuts

ACT New Zealand will not support Labour MP Damien O’Connor’s Dairy Industry Restructuring Amendment Bill (No2), ACT New Zealand Primary Industries Spokesman Don Nicolson said today.

Justice Minister Judith Collins says the fact that political parties cannot agree makes it impossible to make any changes to our MMP voting system.

Taxpayers will fork out another $2 million for auditors to deal with the mountain of complications created by Novopay, Labour’s Education spokesperson Chris Hipkins has revealed.

Associate Social Development Minister Chester Borrows today congratulated Student Job Search on 30 years of helping students find work.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has confirmed today that the economy remains seriously out of balance, with low household savings and high debt levels.

Envoys for Pakistan, the Seychelles and Qatar will present their credentials to the Governor-General, Lt Gen Rt Hon Sir Jerry Mateparae, at Government House in Wellington tomorrow (Thursday 16 May 2013).

The International Monetary Fund has confirmed that the Government’s economic plan strikes the right balance between supporting growth and limiting public debt, Finance Minister Bill English says.

Hand-held lasers strong enough to be a hazard to aircraft will be subject to new import, sale and supply controls under Health and Customs legislation, Associate Health Minister Jo Goodhew announced today.

An awareness campaign and public meetings begin next week to encourage people to consider standing for election to Auckland Council’s governing body and 21 local boards.

Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee has authorised a Master Coordination Agreement between Qantas and Emirates, opening the way to shared services between the airlines on trans-Tasman routes.

The court has upheld Hastings District Council’s introduction of a targeted rate which helped pay for the purchase of the Waimarama Domain.

New Zealand First has accused the Government of handing the streets over to the criminal community in order to balance its books.

"The Maori Party is backing the introduction of well-funded charter schools even though they represent a direct attack on kura kaupapa Maori, and on public education generally," said Hone Harawira, Leader of MANA and MP for Te Tai Tokerau.

The ‘Community Campaign for Food in Schools’ is disappointed that National has said it will vote against the ‘Feed the Kids Bill’ when the Bill has its first reading, preventing the Bill from going to Select Committee for public consultation.

The New Zealand Parliament has become the first Parliament in the southern hemisphere to be awarded Fair Trade accreditation. To mark the occasion, five Parliamentarians hosted an Oxfam Coffee Break today in the Grand Hall.

The Education Amendment Bill has passed its second reading in Parliament today.

Education Minister Hekia Parata says the Bill will help more young New Zealanders to thrive in the education system.