Wellington, Aug 20 NZPA - GST should be removed from food the Maori Party says and it is drafting a bill to do just that. The Maori Party campaigned on having GST removed from food and renewed its calls amid suggestions GST be raised from 12.5 percent to between 15 and 20 percent.

Wellington, Aug 19 NZPA - Goodman Group has sold 93 million units in New Zealand listed Goodman Property Trust to institutions to raise $A72 ($NZ89) million. The sale was at NZ95c a unit compares with $NZ1.03 at the close yesterday.

Wellington, Aug 13 NZPA - Prime Minister John Key launched the Food Innovation New Zealand (FINZ) initiative in Palmerston North today -- and a special beer was made for his visit.

Wellington, Aug 13 NZPA - Former Cabinet minister Sir Douglas Graham says he would not give up his MPs' travel allowance, though he would swap it for a pension when he got too old to travel.

Wellington, Aug 9 NZPA - The Government is contributing $320,000 to a scheme which gives needy kids meals at school. Prime Minister John Key said about 7500 more children would benefit because of the extra funding to the KidsCan StandTall Food For Kids programme.

This week John Key signalled that he was seriously mulling over whether or not to send the NZ Special Air Services (SAS) to Afghanistan to assist NATO and US troops in their fight against a resurgent Taliban. I say that the Government shouldn't do so.

Why?

Wellington, July 19 NZPA - Cabinet will discuss today delaying a trans-Tasman commitment to add folic acid to bread for three years, with Prime Minister John Key wanting bakers to use that time to start voluntarily using the additive in some products.

Wellington, July 13 NZPA - New Zealand supermarket shelves are filled with the brands owned by Japanese drinks giants Suntory Holdings Ltd and Kirin Holdings Co who are reported to be considering a merger.

Wellington, July 13 NZPA - The inclusion of folic acid in bread is likely to go ahead in September but may be stopped soon after, Prime Minister John Key says.

Wellington, July 12 NZPA - Food Safety Minister Kate Wilkinson says she will seek a review of the use of folic acid in bread -- but not until a month after bakers have started adding it.