Wellington, Feb 23 NZPA - MPs appear to be taking steps to ensure they don't get caught up in credit card spending controversies by reverting from taking them out of their wallets altogether.

Wellington, Feb 23 NZPA - Housing Minister Phil Heatley says he is embarrassed and upset about slip-ups involving taxpayer-funded credit card spending outside ministerial rules -- gaffes which have annoyed Prime Minister John Key.

Wellington, Feb 22 NZPA - Agriculture Minister David Carter is travelling to Europe today to attend a meeting considering growing concerns over food security.

The Government is signalling a more pragmatic approach to mining on Department of Conservation land. PAM GRAHAM of NZPA talks to a company already doing it.

(Adds comment) Wellington, Feb 18 NZPA - A new code covering the welfare of dairy cattle was released today, but it does not take into account factory farming.

Wellington, Feb 18 NZPA - A new code covering the welfare of dairy cattle was released today, but it does not take into account factory farming.

Wellington, Feb 19 NZPA - New Zealand's McDonald's restaurants had one of their best sales years ever in 2009, helped in no small part by the recession as more people turned to fast food, says the local head.

Wellington, Feb 12 NZPA - Fonterra chief executive Andrew Ferrier says the world's largest milk-powder dryer -- officially opened today at the cooperative's Edendale site near Invercargill -- is keeping the nation's dairy farmers internationally competitive.

Wellington, Feb 2 NZPA - Hamilton-based natural sweetener company BioVittoria says it has gained key approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its fruit-based zero-calorie sweetener.

Wellington, Jan 27 NZPA - Most industry groups welcomed the Government's announcement today that it will make a livestock tracing scheme compulsory -- and pay for it.