Wellington, May 19 NZPA - There will be little or no money in tomorrow's budget for the Government's new Environmental Protection Agency, Labour says.

Wellington, May 18 NZPA - Rape victims should not have to wait weeks to get help and that situation needs to improve, ACC Minister Nick Smith told Parliament today.

Wellington, May 14 NZPA - About 800 greenhouse gas-emitting firms are in line for taxpayer subsidies under the emissions trading scheme (ETS) and those taxpayers have a right to know how much they will be paying in subsidies, Opposition MPs say.

Wellington, May 9 NZPA - New Zealand's fresh water management is deteriorating and the decentralised system isn't meeting the country's needs, says the lead author of the report that led to the sacking of Environment Canterbury.

Wellington, May 4 NZPA - Metering water use is going to cost big consumers about $40 million, Environment Minister Nick Smith has told Parliament. He announced on Friday that 92 percent of the national water take will be metered by 2012 and 98 percent by 2016.

Wellington, May 3 NZPA - Government officials will help Environment Canterbury's (ECan) appointed commissioners because of concerns over their workload.

Wellington, May 2 NZPA - National Party backbenchers and senior government ministers want to defer the emissions trading scheme (ETS) after Australia sidelined its own scheme, ACT MP John Boscawen says. The New Zealand scheme was scheduled to begin on July 1.

Wellington, April 29 NZPA - Labour Party victims rights spokeswoman Lynne Pillay has taken issue with the Government's claims about efforts it is making to improve assistance to sexual abuse victims.

Wellington, April 29 NZPA - The Government's plan to continue with the emissions trading scheme (ETS), despite Australia having decided to put it on hold, has been labelled "rash and foolish" by ACT Party leader Rodney Hide.

Wellington, April 28 NZPA - New Zealand's emissions trading scheme (ETS) will start on July 1 because delaying it would create instability and uncertainty, Climate Change Minister Nick Smith said today.