Wellington, Sept 4 NZPA - The crown retail deposit guarantee scheme that picked up the tab for the collapse of South Canterbury Finance was hastily crafted in a war room in Wellington on a Sunday in October 2008 in response to fears of a run on banks.

Wellington, July 23 NZPA - Relations between Australia and New Zealand are not likely to be damaged following the leak of a diplomatic cable between the New Zealand High Commission and Canberra and the New Zealand Government, says a former diplomat.

By Kate Chapman of NZPA Wellington July 1 NZPA - Cuddly pandas, deadly torpedoes and Chinese food safety will be among the talking points when Prime Minister John Key travels to Asia next week.

By Kate Chapman of NZPA Wellington July 1 NZPA - Cuddly pandas, deadly torpedoes and Chinese food safety will be among the talking points when Prime Minister John Key travels to Asia next week.

By Maggie Tait of NZPA Wellington, June 24 NZPA - Rather than kicking the tyres of MMP, the Government is putting the whole car up for sale, a political expert says.

By Kent Atkinson of NZPA Wellington, June 24 NZPA - Politicians usually at the front of the scrum when claims are made that New Zealand leads the world have been noticeably shy about the nation's emissions trading scheme (ETS) which kicks up several notches on July 1.

Wellington, June 22 NZPA - New Zealand should be opposing Chinese efforts to export nuclear reactors to Pakistan, says Labour's disarmament spokesman, Phil Twyford.

Wellington, June 22 NZPA - Demoted Labour MP Chris Carter is spending the week working in his Te Atatu electorate, but his position within the party remains uncertain.

Wellington, June 20 NZPA - Labour's popularity has slumped following the credit card expenses scandal, a TV3 poll released tonight shows. The poll, of 1000 people, saw National's popularity increase to 55.3 percent while Labour fell to 30.5 percent.

Wellington, June 18 NZPA - Many of the biggest players in the global nuclear reactor industry may be headed for a row in New Zealand next week, when the 46-country Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) meets here.