Wellington, March 16 NZPA - Agriculture Minister David Carter has called in Murray Horn, a former Treasury secretary and head of ANZ Banking Group's New Zealand arm, to try to pull together warring factions in the wool sector.

Wellington, March 3 NZPA - A research centre dedicated to reducing agriculture greenhouse gas emissions has been opened in Palmerston North by Prime Minister John Key.

Wellington, March 2 NZPA - A new biosecurity response unit was opened near Wellington today, designed to handle serious outbreaks of infectious diseases.

By Maggie Tait of NZPA Wellington, Feb 26 NZPA - Ministerial Services warned former minister Phil Heatley about his work credit card use.

Wellington, Feb 26 NZPA - Shamed former minister Phil Heatley was warned repeatedly about his ministerial credit card spending which led to his resignation from Cabinet.

Wellington, Feb 26 NZPA - Whangarei MP Phil Heatley's resignation from the Cabinet has puzzled his constituents and his electorate chairman says the reason appears to have been no more than a technical issue.

Wellington, Feb 25 NZPA - Parliament has unanimously supported a bill that significantly increases penalties for cruelty to animals. The Government's Animal Welfare Amendment Bill passed its first reading today, with MPs praising its provisions and saying they were necessary.

By Maggie Tait and Ian Llewellyn of NZPA Wellington, Feb 25 NZPA - Prime Minister John Key is not ruling out Phil Heatley returning to Cabinet, but is waiting to see if a high level investigation clears him.

(Pix avail ex nzpa images.co.nz) By Maggie Tait of NZPA Wellington, Feb 25 NZPA - Phil Heatley resigned his ministerial roles after Prime Minister John Key asked him about a claim for bottles of wine.

Wellington, Feb 22 NZPA - Agriculture Minister David Carter is travelling to Europe today to attend a meeting considering growing concerns over food security.