Wellington, Aug 14 NZPA - Transport Minister Steven Joyce says there is strong support for the ban on using hand-held cellphones in cars and most people realise they shouldn't text and drive at the same time.

Wellington, Aug 14 NZPA - Political parties and cellphone companies have welcomed a ban on texting and using hand-held cellphones while driving.

By Maggie Tait of NZPA Wellington, Aug 13 NZPA - Drivers will not be allowed to text or talk on hand-held cellphones from November -- a move welcomed by cellphone companies.

Wellington, Aug 12 NZPA - A messy tax dispute worth millions of dollars between inbound tour operators and the Inland Revenue Department will be sorted out through legislation and a reprieve over disputed tax.

Wellington, July 20 NZPA - It will be some time before any decisions are made on giving Australian authorities greater access to the New Zealand criminal records data base, Justice Minister Simon Power said today.

Wellington, July 15 NZPA - If the Government wants to implement national standards in maths, reading and writing it will have to listen to schools' concerns, a teachers' union said today.

Wellington, July 15 NZPA - Teacher unions have been left in no doubt about the Government's determination to introduce national standards in maths, reading and writing.

Wellington, July 3 NZPA - Education Minister Anne Tolley is ruling out a law change to prevent standards' information being used to create league tables comparing schools.

Wellington, June 30 NZPA - Labour education spokesman Trevor Mallard says a bill already before Parliament could be changed to prevent information being used to create league tables.

Wellington, June 30 NZPA - The Government is focused on trying to get New Zealand through a recession rather than changing the smacking law, which it believes is working, Prime Minister John Key said today.