By Maggie Tait of NZPA Wellington, April 30 NZPA - Private sector contractors employed by ministers but paid for by departments are being labelled "hired guns" by enraged Labour MPs, who say National is circumventing normal hiring practices.

Wellington, April 28 NZPA - Progressive leader Jim Anderton is upset a Maori Party MP blocked a parliamentary motion expressing concern about the humanitarian situation in northern Sri Lanka.

Wellington, April 26 NZPA - A Justice Ministry proposal to slash jobs has been roundly condemned, with both the Labour Party and the country's largest union saying it will cause further court delays.

Wellington, April 24 NZPA - Housing New Zealand has apologised to its minister after staff made a submission to a parliamentary committee without his approval.

Wellington, April 22 NZPA - New Zealand is calling on both sides of violence in Sri Lanka to show restraint. Foreign Minister Murray McCully appealed to Sri Lankan government forces and the Tamil Tigers to heed international calls to stop fighting.

Wellington, April 22 NZPA - Labour has accused Foreign Minister Murray McCully of trying to muzzle Race Relations Commissioner Joris de Bres.

Wellington, April 21 NZPA - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's words of hate should not be allowed to undermine a United Nations conference on racism, Labour MP Grant Robertson says.

Wellington, April 20 NZPA - Labour and the Greens are at odds with the Government over its decision to boycott this week's United Nations conference on racism.

Wellington, April 20 NZPA - Labour and the Greens are at odds with the Government over its decision to boycott this week's United Nations conference on racism.

Wellington, April 8 NZPA - The Labour Party says the Government is courting strife with its pay restraint policy for public service workers.