Wellington, April 21 NZPA - The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) says it will give urgent priority to its investigation into allegations of corruption against a former ACC staff member.

Wellington, April 21 NZPA - Environment Minister Nick Smith has rejected assertions made in Parliament that he should have stood aside from legislation that was introduced to sack Environment Canterbury because his brother last year pleaded guilty to charges brought by the council.

Wellington, April 21 NZPA - Those caught waiting for councils to process their resource management claims may be eligible for a discount of up to 50 percent following regulation changes announced today by Environment Minister Nick Smith.

Wellington, April 21 NZPA - Environment Minister Nick Smith should have stood aside from legislation that was introduced to sack Environment Canterbury because his brother last year pleaded guilty to charges brought by the council, a Labour MP told Parliament today.

Wellington, April 20 NZPA - A former ACC staff member has been referred to the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) following concerns about the lease arrangements and purchase of buildings for ACC offices.

Wellington, April 16 NZPA - New Zealand as a whole stands to make a small profit under the Kyoto protocol, but the Government may have to pay, new figures show.

Wellington, April 8 NZPA - There will be no immediate change to the introduction of the Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) but delays in later stages are possible, Climate Change Minister Nick Smith says.

Wellington, April 7 NZPA - The Parliamentary Services Commission will consider whether use of taxpayer money for MPs' legal expenses should be open for public scrutiny, Speaker Lockwood Smith says.

By Maggie Tait of NZPA Wellington, April 7 NZPA - Prime Minister John Key says the use of taxpayer funds to pay National MP Nick Smith's legal bills is fine, but he would be open to such information being made public.

Wellington, April 7 NZPA - Tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars are funding legal defences for MPs, it was reported today.