Wellington, July 12 NZPA - Electoral law experts have told a parliamentary committee there should be a set date for elections, rather than the government in power deciding when they are held.

Wellington, May 7 NZPA - New Zealand has less access to new, high-cost medicines than comparable countries and the impact of that on patients can be severe, a review panel has reported.

Wellington, May 7 NZPA - New Zealand has less access to new, high-cost medicines than comparable countries and the impact of that on patients can be severe, a review panel has reported.

By Kate Chapman of NZPA Wellington, April 8 NZPA - Health experts are backing a government proposal to cut the blood alcohol limit, saying people driving within the current level may be slurring their speech and falling over.

Wellington, Nov 18 NZPA - Tertiary Education Minister Anne Tolley says the Government's summer research scholarships scheme has proved to be a success. "I'm delighted that so many students have taken the opportunity to apply for these $5000 scholarships," she said.

Wellington, Sept 23 NZPA - Hundreds of men are unnecessarily dying of prostate cancer every year because doctors refuse to test them, a parliamentary select committee has been told.

As a mature student at the University of Otago, I just have to make comment on the events which transpired around the Undie 500 at the weekend.

Today, it was revealed that Michael Laws had written a rude and dismissive letter to the mainly Maori pupils of Otaki Primary School in the Whanganui district (dare I add the 'h' word here for effect).

This past Friday night, I enjoyed a few beers with one of New Zealand's pre-eminent political commentators, Chris Trotter.

Last week Maori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples flew a political kite by suggesting that universities should apply an open entry policy in respect of all Maori students.