Wellington, Sept 3 NZPA - Veterans Affairs Minister Judith Collins has marked Merchant Navy Day by paying tribute to the work and sacrifices made by New Zealand's merchant seamen during World War 2.

State-sector wide procurement reforms are continuing apace, with contracts for printing, copying, fax and scanning machines set to save taxpayers more than $20 million dollars over the next five years, Economic Development Minister Gerry Brownlee says.

Health Minister Tony Ryall has welcomed a cancer drug agreement between Pharmac and pharmaceutical company Roche that will enable more patients to get new cancer drugs, and more cancer patients overall to receive treatment.

Health Minister Tony Ryall says the Tairawhiti District Health Board (DHB) has posted big improvements in key services over the past year.

"Tairawhiti beat its target of 1,987 elective surgery discharges for the year actually delivering 2,010," Mr Ryall says.

Minister of Health Tony Ryall must take at least some of the blame for the radiographers' strike that will this weekend affect hundreds of patients, Labour Health spokesperson Ruth Dyson says.

The hard work and sacrifice of New Zealand merchant seamen during WWII made an important contribution to Allied victory in 1945, Veterans Affairs Minister Judith Collins said today.

Wellington, Sept 3 NZPA - A thousand employers are set to turn up at meetings over the next few days to learn more about looming employment law changes, says the Employers and Manufacturers Association (EMA).

The mean-spirited slashing of home help for 500 elderly or disabled people in Wellington will likely end up costing the District Health Board more money, Green Party Aged Care spokesperson Sue Kedgley said today.

Maurice Williamson is wrong to call New Zealander's who are concerned about the loss of our productive farmland to overseas interests racist, Green Party Co-leader Dr Russel Norman said today.

Wellington, Sept 3 NZPA - Prime Minister John Key is a racist by Land Information Minister Maurice Williamson's reasoning, Green Party co-leader Russel Norman says.

By Kate Chapman of NZPA

Wellington, Sept 3 NZPA - The Government will spend $3.5 million on improving tsunami preparedness and warning systems across the Pacific in a programme which Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully describes as a major upgrade.

Raising awareness of the impact of falls and alcohol on injuries in the home is the aim of ACC's annual home safety campaign, Safety NZ Week.

Wellington, Sept 3 NZPA - Associate Health Minister Tariana Turia heads to Hawaii tomorrow to attend a forum on indigenous health.

Mrs Turia will deliver a keynote speech, hold bilateral meetings with other health ministers and visit local health providers.

Associate Health Minister Tariana Turia will attend the Healing our Spirit Worldwide conference in Honolulu next week.

This is an international forum which focuses on the successes, best practices and common issues in the health of indigenous communities.

Wellington, Sept 3 NZPA - A request from New Zealand soldiers in Afghanistan to have spy drone planes was rejected despite their use by private companies and coalition forces.

Wellington, Sept 3 NZPA - A request from New Zealand soldiers in Afghanistan to have spy drone planes was rejected despite their use by private companies and coalition forces.

Wellington, Sept 3 NZPA - Plans to overhaul rules around child support have been welcomed by single parents and child advocates.

Wellington, Sept 2 NZPA - Local Government Minister leader Rodney Hide will spearhead a wide-ranging review on dog laws once his commitments to the Auckland super city are wrapped up.

Wellington, Sept 2 NZPA - Plans to stem the rise in the cost of funding free off-peak travel for pensioners under the SuperGold card scheme will affect transport operators, but Transport Minister Steven Joyce says the elderly will not lose out.

Wellington, Sept 2 NZPA - Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia has accused ACT MP David Garrett of using racial division to win votes after he criticised aspects of National's changes to the Foreshore and Seabed Act.