Wellington, Feb 25 NZPA - MPs trimmed back their taxpayer funded expenses in the last three months of last year due to the start of the long summer break and more discipline.

Wellington, Feb 23 NZPA - MPs appear to be taking steps to ensure they don't get caught up in credit card spending controversies by reverting from taking them out of their wallets altogether.

Wellington, Feb 17 NZPA - The Government has welcomed a survey which shows an increasing number of people consider Asia is important to New Zealand's future.

Wellington, Feb 16 NZPA - An increasing number of people consider Asia is important to New Zealand's future and support free trade agreements with Asian countries, a survey released today shows.

Wellington, Feb 1 NZPA - New Zealand has joined the Copenhagen Accord on climate change and has submitted its existing conditional 2020 emission reduction target, the Government said today.

Wellington, Jan 27 NZPA - Education Minister Anne Tolley has defended herself against claims she has not been coping with the demands of her education portfolios.

Wellington, Jan 27 NZPA - The appointment of first term MP Steven Joyce to the tertiary education portfolio in yesterday's Cabinet reshuffle has been welcomed by the New Zealand Union of Students' Associations (NZUSA).

By Paloma Migone of NZPA

Wellington, Jan 26 NZPA - First term MP Steven Joyce has been given another ministerial portfolio in a Cabinet reshuffle announced by Prime Minister John Key this afternoon.

Wellington, Jan 26 NZPA - Trade Minister Tim Groser is to attend the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.