Wellington, Aug 24 NZPA - Legislation allowing workers to trade in their fourth week of leave for cash and giving employers the right to demand a medical certificate for one day of sick leave passed its first reading in Parliament today after protests from the Labour Party and the Greens.

Wellington, July 26 NZPA - The Green Party has drafted a bill seeking to stop overseas buyers snapping up large tracts of New Zealand land.

Wellington, July 26 NZPA - The Green Party has drafted a bill seeking to stop overseas buyers snapping up large tracts of New Zealand land.

Wellington, July 26 NZPA - Unions continue to voice strong opposition to sweeping new labour laws announced by the Government, saying the move is attack on workers' rights.

Wellington, July 22 NZPA - A bill that will replace the 30-year-old Food Act was given its first reading in Parliament today. The 342-page Food Bill has taken three years to draft and Food Safety Minister Kate Wilkinson says it is a big improvement on existing law.

Wellington, July 22 NZPA - Energy Minister Gerry Brownlee and Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson were in no doubt about the public's opposition to mining protected land, documents released today show.

By Maggie Tait of NZPA Wellington, July 20 NZPA - Specially protected areas of conservation land won't be mined but it looks like open season for other parts of the country.

By Kate Chapman of NZPA Wellington, July 20 NZPA - The ideological battle over the proposed extension of the 90-day trial period for new employees continued in Parliament today.

By Chris Ormond and Maggie Tait of NZPA Wellington, July 20 NZPA - Environmental groups are celebrating the Government's decision to abandon plans to open protected conservation land to mineral prospecting, but remain concerned about future mining on Crown land.

By Chris Ormond of NZPA Wellington, July 20 NZPA - Environmental groups are celebrating the Government's decision to abandon plans to open protected conservation land to mineral prospecting, but remain concerned about future mining on Crown land.