Wellington, Oct 29 NZPA - Prime Minister John Key has just one beef with a Television New Zealand promo featuring Finance Minister Bill English -- "they didn't ask me". The 45-second ad, running on all TVNZ's channels, promotes a new series called Focus on the Economy.

Wellington, Oct 29 NZPA - Labour is demanding equal TVNZ air time as Bill English is getting on a programme promo, saying the finance minister's "free publicity" is worth about $1 million.

By Kate Chapman of NZPA Wellington, Oct 28 NZPA - Finance Minister Bill English will not be formally investigated over the housing allowance he received and has since paid back.

By Maggie Tait of NZPA Wellington, Oct 28 NZPA - Labour has written to TVNZ asking it to pull an ad it says gives National about $1 million in free publicity.

NZPA political reporters Wellington, Oct 28 NZPA - Finance Minister Bill English says he had no influence over a promotion for a television show which Labour says could be mistaken for a National Party political broadcast.

Wellington, Oct 28 NZPA - Climate Change Minister Nick Smith says the Government's emissions trading scheme strikes a " good balance" between providing jobs for New Zealanders reducing emissions.

Wellington, Oct 23 NZPA - The Serious Fraud Office has laid charges against two men at Auckland District Court for their roles in a failed motor vehicle finance company.

Wellington, Oct 21 NZPA - The New Zealand dollar was volatile but overall generally firm on a day the market received some unexpected commentary from Reserve Bank of New Zealand governor Alan Bollard.

By Maggie Tait of NZPA Wellington, Oct 21 NZPA - Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) Governor Alan Bollard says a high New Zealand dollar is unhelpful but would not be a big factor when considering raising interest rates.

Wellington, Oct 20 NZPA - South Canterbury Finance (SCF) has registered a new prospectus and is reiterating that it intends to apply to participate in the extended crown deposit guarantee scheme.