Wellington, Sept 10 NZPA - Environment Minister Nick Smith says changes to the Resource Management Act passed by Parliament last night will "untangle unnecessary red tape" and make it easier to improve the country's infrastructure.

Wellington, Sept 9 NZPA - Reforms of the Resource Management Act (RMA) have passed into law with the support of most political parties.

Wellington, Sept 9 NZPA - Parliament is set to sit to midnight tonight as MPs continue to debate reform of the Resource Management Act.

(Inserts Family First reaction) Wellington, Sept 8 NZPA - Well-known television host, author and clinical psychologist Nigel Latta says he only agreed to help review policies around the smacking issue if he was free to speak his mind about the conclusions.

Wellington, Sept 8 NZPA - Well-known television host, author and clinical psychologist Nigel Latta says he only agreed to help review policies around the smacking issue if he was free to speak his mind about the conclusions.

Wellington, Aug 28 NZPA - A parliamentary committee is proposing police vetting of non-teaching staff in schools and early childhood education centres within two weeks of the staff starting work.

Wellington, Aug 27 NZPA - Smacking referendum campaigner Larry Baldock has asked for a meeting with Prime Minister John Key to discuss the Government's reaction to the result, but he isn't likely to get one.

Wellington, Aug 25 NZPA - Prime Minister John Key has made "a huge mistake" by refusing to change the law that bans smacking and National will suffer for it at the next election, the ACT Party says.

Wellington, Aug 24 NZPA - Changes to the way welfare officers handle complaints about light smacking are likely, Prime Minister John Key said today. Cabinet today considered Friday's resounding referendum victory for opponents of the 2007 child discipline law change.

Wellington, Aug 24 NZPA - Police say changes to the smacking law have had a minimal impact on policy activity two years after they came into effect.