Research and development tax credits for business are a luxury that should be axed to fund personal tax cuts, National's finance spokesman Bill English said today.

Workers will be better off by between $12 and $28 a week due to much debated tax cuts coming into effect from tomorrow. The first tax cuts in a decade come as the world economy is thrown into turmoil with the United States Government grappling with the credit crisis.

By Ian Llewellyn of NZPA Wellington, Sept 30 NZPA - Workers will be better off by between $12 and $28 a week due to much debated tax cuts coming into effect from tomorrow.

Believing in polls that put National at more than 50 percent support is like believing in fairies, Prime Minister Helen Clark said today. A Fairfax Media-Nielsen poll over the weekend put National Party support on 52 percent, 18 points ahead of the Labour Party.

(clarifies budget deficit figures in par six) Wellington, Sept 18 NZPA - As markets continue to decline Labour and National are trading blows over which party would be better to guide New Zealand through the economic storm.

As markets continue to decline Labour and National are trading blows over which party would be better to guide New Zealand through the economic storm.

Wellington, Sept 18 NZPA - As markets continue to decline Labour and National are trading blows over which party would be better to guide New Zealand through the economic storm.

Wellington, Sept 3 NZPA - More than 150 business people heard views from politicians of all persuasions at the Business NZ Election conference in Wellington today. Business NZ chief executive Phil O'Reilly said the most spirited debate was in the session on infrastructure and energy.

National leader John Key says public trust in his party will grow as it releases more policy. A TV One survey released last night found half the voters polled did not believe the National Party is being open about its plans.

(ads comment from opposition) Wellington, Aug 6 NZPA - An affirmation of New Zealand's credit rating by Standard & Poor's today was used to score political points by Finance Minister Michael Cullen and the National Party's finance spokesman Bill English.