Wellington, July 26 NZPA - The mother of undercover police officer Sergeant Don Wilkson, shot dead with a high-powered air rifle in 2008, has welcomed a new requirement for owners of the guns to be licensed.

Wellington, July 26 NZPA - A move to require people to be licensed to own high-powered air rifles is long overdue, says the Police Association.

Wellington, July 25 NZPA - A move to require people to be licensed to own high-powered air rifles has been welcomed by the Green Party, but it also says owners should have to register all their firearms.

Wellington, July 25 NZPA - Owners of high-powered airguns will require a firearms licence within a matter of months, the Government announced today.

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

Wellington, July 16 NZPA - A report saying the Corrections Department should no longer be responsible for prison healthcare has been hailed by an inmates' rights lobbyist as an important and significant contribution to health policy.

Wellington, July 16 NZPA - The Government should consider transferring prison health care out of the Corrections Department and into the health sector, a National Health Committee report into improving the health of prisoners says.

Wellington, July 15 NZPA - Prime Minister John Key says he supports looking into giving police greater access to firearms, but that won't stop officers being shot at.

Wellington, July 13 NZPA - A Green Party MP says he will spend a night in jail if the Government can build a private prison at Wiri in south Auckland for $300 million.

Wellington, July 12 NZPA - A proposed $298 million public-private partnership prison in South Auckland will have a $1.2 billion economic spinoff, Corrections Minister Judith Collins says.