Wellington, Oct 7 NZPA - Girls are 13 percent more likely than boys to leave school with at least an NCEA level 2 academic qualification, new Ministry of Education figures show.

Wellington, Oct 5 NZPA - A turnaround in the current account deficit has helped New Zealand retain its ratings from agency Fitch Ratings.

Wellington, Sept 16 NZPA - Households are looking after their money more carefully than had been expected, Reserve Bank Governor Alan Bollard told Parliament's finance and expenditure select committee today.

Wellington, Sept 8 NZPA - The Savings Working Group will consider a range of reforms, including dual income and capital tax, as they look at how to increase national savings. Treasury today released the discussion document to guide the independent group.

Wellington, Aug 4 NZPA - The Telecommunications Users Associations (Tuanz) is calling on Vodafone and Telecom to pre-empt regulation by immediately lifting surcharges on cross-network calls and texts.

Wellington, July 8 NZPA - Treasury and Inland Revenue Department (IRD) were at odds over the Government's decision to cut the company tax rate to 28 percent.

By Stephanie McKay of NZPA Wellington, June 30 NZPA - Women's Affairs Minister Pansy Wong has done nothing to close the gender pay gap and her comments following a pay disparity protest were flippant and disrespectful, the Green Party says.

Wellington, June 30 NZPA - A survey of businesses found 46 percent reported innovation activity in 2009, the same rate as in a survey carried out in 2007.

Wellington, June 5 NZPA - The Maori Party is promoting its policy of an official poverty line in New Zealand and an increase in the minimum wage after a shock report on child health.

Wellington, June 4 NZPA - The Maori Party is calling on MPs across the political spectrum to work together on an action plan to tackle child poverty.