Wellington, July 21 NZPA - Rodney District Council's last ditch bid to avoid being swallowed up by Auckland has failed.

Wellington, July 21 NZPA - The 69-year-old man with Parkinson's disease and possible dementia who was charged with assault after grabbing the breasts of a woman in his care home would be excused from trial if he was found to have a mental impairment, Police and Corrections Minister Judith Collins

By Maggie Tait of NZPA Wellington, July 21 NZPA - A bill to strip prisoners on short sentences of their rights to vote should be scrapped unless MPs want to show they have no respect for the Bill of Rights, the Chief Human Rights Commissioner says.

Wellington, June 24 NZPA - Opposition MP Jim Anderton was told in Parliament today he was jumping the gun by asking how much of Northland's coastline would come under Maori customary title when the Foreshore and Seabed Act is repealed and replaced by new legislation.

Wellington, June 22 NZPA - Some iwi will be able to meet the test for claiming customary title to parts of the foreshore and seabed, the Government says.

Wellington, June 16 NZPA - The Government expects very little of the foreshore and seabed will end up under Maori customary title through the claims process in the legislation that will replace the Foreshore and Seabed Act.

Wellington, May 26 NZPA - Penal reformers say the "three strikes" legislation passed by Parliament is a blot on the judicial landscape and is diverting attention from rehabilitation.

Wellington, May 26 NZPA - Crime should drop 10-20 percent under the controversial "three strikes" legislation passed by Parliament yesterday, ACT MP David Garrett says.

Wellington, May 25 NZPA - The Government's controversial `three strikes' legislation has been passed by Parliament.

Wellington, May 6 NZPA - Tainui and the Crown will jointly govern, restore and protect the Waikato River under the terms of a Treaty of Waitangi settlement enacted by Parliament today.