Wellington, Dec 12 NZPA - Services offered over Telecom's copper local loop by its competitors are proving popular, according to a monitoring report by the Commerce Commission.

Wellington, Nov 27 NZPA - The Green Party has backed the Government on one of its first calls since the election -- refusing to lift the cap on student fees.

Wellington, Nov 27 NZPA - Education Minister Anne Tolley has knocked back a call by universities for the Government to lift its cap on student fees.

By Grant Fleming of NZPA Wellington, Nov 24 NZPA - A firm commitment from Pacific-rim leaders to fast-track global free-trade talks is a welcome boost for the faltering world economy, Prime Minister John Key says.

Wellington, Nov 24 NZPA - The global financial crisis can be overcome within 18 months by acting "quickly and decisively", Pacific Rim leaders including Prime Minister John Key say.

Wellington, Nov 24 NZPA - Prime Minister John Key is hoping the final communique to be issued today by leaders at the Apec summit in Peru holds a strong commitment to international co-operation in the face of the financial and economic crisis.

Wellington, Nov 23 NZPA - Prime Minister John Key moved into superpower territory at the Apec summit in the Peruvian capital of Lima today, meeting US President George W Bush and China's President Hu Jintao.

Wellington, Nov 20 NZPA - Prime Minister John Key left for the Apec summit in Lima, Peru, today anticipating priorities for discussion would be the international economic crisis and the importance of concluding world trade negotiations.

Health Minister David Cunliffe is questioning where the money would come from to fund National's new medicines policy. National released the medicines plank of its health policy today pledging to increase funding for subsidised medicines by $40 million in 2009-10.

John Key hasn't been around politics for very long but he doesn't doubt his ability to do the top job. Peter Wilson of NZPA looks at National's unusual leader. Wellington, Oct 22 NZPA - He's new, he's different and he wants to be prime minister.