Wellington, March 16 NZPA - The Government is expected to decide this week whether it will back Auckland's bid to host the 2018 Commonwealth Games. An announcement is likely after Sports Minister Murray McCully meets officials and promoters today or tomorrow.

Wellington, March 15 NZPA - Rumours that the Government has decided not to back Auckland's bid to host the 2018 Commonwealth Games will be confirmed or denied later this week, Prime Minister John Key said today.

Wellington, Jan 27 NZPA - A proposal to criminalise cartels, with jail sentences as long as seven years and fines of up to $5 million, has been welcomed by the Opposition.

By Maggie Tait of NZPA Wellington, Jan 26 NZPA - A report out today proposes criminalising cartels, with jail sentences as long as seven years.

Wellington, Jan 7 NZPA - Commerce Minister Simon Power is expected to discuss with officials the registration of companies with overseas directors after controversy over New Zealand links to arms smuggling.

Wellington, Dec 23 NZPA - Potential conflict of interest between NZX's regulatory and commercial functions is highlighted in the annual review of share market operator NZX by the Securities Commission.

Wellington, Dec 16 NZPA - The Government is promising a quick response in the new year to a report recommending a range of moves to improve capital markets in New Zealand.

Wellington, Dec 16 NZPA - Partial privatisation of state assets, a new watchdog for capital markets and partial state funding of research on small companies are among the recommendations of the final report of Capital Markets Development Taskforce presented to Commerce Minister Simon Power today.

Wellington, Dec 1 NZPA - The Green Party is "scaremongering" over recommendations part of Mount Aspiring National Park be set aside for possible mining and exploration, Energy and Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee says.

Wellington, Dec 1 NZPA - The Government is being recommended to set aside up to a fifth of Mount Aspiring National Park's 350,000ha for possible mining and exploration, according to a leaked report.