Wellington, April 22 NZPA - It is a "total waste of time" for Maori to try make claims under a United Nations declaration on indigenous rights that New Zealand has just endorsed, Acting Prime Minister Bill English says.

Wellington, April 16 NZPA - Maori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples today announced appointments to the Maori TV board, Waitangi Tribunal and Maori Language Commission.

Wellington, Oct 20 NZPA - The cost to the taxpayer of the bid for Rugby World Cup broadcasting rights will be "considerably" less than the $5 million speculated, Prime Minister John Key says.

Wellington, Oct 20 NZPA - Finance Minister Bill English wouldn't be drawn this morning on talks he reportedly had in June about a potential bid by Maori Television Service (MTS) to secure rugby World Cup broadcasting rights.

Wellington, Oct 20 NZPA - The joint bid to screen free-to-air Rugby World Cup games will save the Government money and give viewers choice, Prime Minister John Key says.

Wellington, Oct 20 NZPA - The Government hopes the International Rugby Board will accept by the end of this week a joint bid by three television networks for Rugby World Cup free-to-air broadcast rights.

Wellington, Oct 19 NZPA - Maori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples confirmed today he met Finance Minister Bill English in June to tell him about the plan to back a Maori Television Service bid for Rugby World Cup broadcasting rights.

Wellington, Oct 16 NZPA - Television networks negotiating a joint bid for Rugby World Cup broadcasting rights today reported "significant progress" and said ministers would be updated on Monday. The Maori Television Service (MTS), TVNZ and TV3 are working on the joint bid.

Wellington, Oct 16 NZPA - Maori Television's exclusive right to broadcast the opening ceremony of the 2011 Rugby World Cup and the first game of the tournament could be a sticking point in its negotiations with TVNZ and TV3 for a joint bid.

Wellington, Oct 15 NZPA - A joint bid by three television networks for local broadcast rights to Rugby World Cup games is close to completion, Maori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples indicated today.