Wellington, Dec 9 NZPA - The Government has confirmed the new Auckland super city council won't have to hold a referendum about any potential sale of Ports of Auckland, but has put other protections in place.

Wellington, Dec 9 NZPA - Housing New Zealand is being accused of blocking applicants from getting state houses using its new advisory service.

Wellington, Dec 3 NZPA - Labour MP Lynne Pillay has confirmed she will not seek re-election at the 2011 election. The former Waitakere MP lost the seat to National's Paula Bennett in the 2008 election, but re-entered Parliament on the party list.

Wellington, Nov 20 NZPA - Auckland Mayor John Banks says the city's new local government structure is "an inspired piece of work" while the Labour Party is committed to opposing it and the boundaries that go with it.

Some MPs could try harder, some get a gold star and one or two have not achieved on NZPA's report card one year on from National's election victory. MAGGIE TAIT rates the performances.

Wellington, Sept 28 NZPA - Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully has been accused of acting vindictively toward overseas aid agencies who criticised his changes to the direction of the aid programme earlier this year.

Wellington, Sept 14 NZPA - The Government has bowed to local pressure and decided not to change the Rodney District boundary under the legislation that sets up the new Auckland City Council.

Wellington, Sept 14 NZPA - The Government is still battling behind the scenes to find an effective leaky homes solution and it is too soon to talk about a possible hit to New Zealand's credit rating, Prime Minister John Key says.

Wellington, Sept 7 NZPA - A plan to stop councils issuing blanket tree protection orders will not result in a "chainsaw massacre", Prime Minister John Key said today. The Government this week plans to push reform of the Resource Management Act (RMA) through Parliament.

Wellington, Sept 7 NZPA - A plan to stop councils issuing blanket tree protection would risk a "chainsaw massacre", Labour says. The Government has been vocal about its reform of the Resource Management Act (RMA). Changes include prohibiting blanket tree protection orders.