Wellington, Feb 7 NZPA - The Ministry of Health has been asked to focus on improving quality and safety for pregnant women and their babies, Health Minister Tony Ryall says.

Wellington, June 9 NZPA - Another pregnant woman on a visitor's permit has been ordered to leave the country by Immigration New Zealand.

Wellington, June 8 NZPA - A Korean woman will be kicked out of New Zealand after being refused a student visa because she is pregnant -- despite being willing to pay for her maternity care. Sung Won Kim, 31, and her partner arrived on visitors' permits in March.

By Maggie Tait of NZPA Wellington, May 28 NZPA - Key points from today's budget: * new spending of $1.7 billion in 2009-10 and $5.8 billion in total over to 2012-13 and $1.4b in new capital spending by 2012-13.

This week's budget from Finance Minister Bill English has already been labelled the most important budget since Roger Douglas brought down his first Rogernomics budget in 1984.

Wellington, May 24 NZPA - A list of announcements made ahead of the May 28 budget. * $20 million over three years to fund a seismic survey programme to encourage oil and gas exploration. *$50 million over three years on the national cycleway project.

Wellington, May 20 NZPA - Labour says it wants more details of the Government's commitment to improve maternity services.

Wellington, May 19 NZPA - The Government will spend an extra $103.5 million on maternity services over the next four years, Health Minister Tony Ryall announced today.

Wellington, March 13 NZPA - One in 100 babies died before being a month old in 2006, a report shows.