Wellington, May 31 NZPA - Andy Haden can be forgiven for his "darky" comments as long as the apology is genuine, Prime Minister John Key says.

Wellington, Jan 31 NZPA - Maori Party MP Hone Harawira is blaming the media for the uproar last year over his racially offensive comments, and says he wasn't close to being expelled from caucus because of it.

Wellington, Nov 11 NZPA - Hone Harawira's expletive-laden and racially abusive email has generated a record number of complaints to the Race Relations Commissioner.

John Key's pledge to wage war on gangs and in particular the very addictive drug known as 'P' (pure methametaphine) is fraught with difficulty.

Wellington, Aug 10 NZPA - The review of ministerial housing allowances will lead to changes, Prime Minister John Key says.

Wellington, Aug 9 NZPA - Speaker Lockwood Smith today defended MPs' allowances, saying new MPs got the same pay as those, like himself, with many years of experience.

Wellington, July 12 NZPA - Food Safety Minister Kate Wilkinson says she will seek a review of the use of folic acid in bread -- but not until a month after bakers have started adding it.

Wellington, March 6 NZPA - Veteran broadcaster Paul Holmes is returning to television current affairs as co-host of TV One's new Sunday morning political programme Q&A.

Wellington, Dec 22 NZPA - A diplomatic posting for former Labour Prime Minister Helen Clark is a "live option" if she wants such a job, Prime Minister John Key says.

By Kevin Norquay of NZPA Wellington, Dec 16 NZPA - This was the year New Zealand lost its most famous and treasured citizen, notched its greatest day at an Olympic Games, and voted for a change of Government.