Wellington, March 12 NZPA - The proposed merger of the National Library and Archives New Zealand within the Department of Internal Affairs may cause a conflict between the principals of freedom of information and censorship, a national library group says.

Wellington, March 12 NZPA - The Government has moved quickly to appease pensioners concerned their SuperGold card privileges may be eroded because of the scheme's escalating costs.

Wellington, March 12 NZPA - Police Minister Judith Collins turned her wrath on the Sunday Star-Times newspaper today, for sending "terrorists" to Super 14 rugby games in a supposed bid to test security ahead of the 2011 World Cup.

Wellington, March 12 NZPA - Race Relations Commissioner Joris de Bres has again criticised Hone Harawira for making racially offensive comments, saying in a report released today political parties should have codes of conduct that did not tolerate such behaviour.

Wellington, March 12 NZPA - Justice Minister Simon Power heads to New York tomorrow to report to the United Nations on how New Zealand's human rights obligations are being managed.

Wellington, March 12 NZPA - Transport Minister Steven Joyce will attend the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Aviation Security in Tokyo tomorrow.

Wellington, March 12 NZPA - The success of the SuperGold card scheme's transport discount should not be a reason to downgrade it, says senior citizens lobby group Grey Power.

Wellington, March 12 NZPA - A "stunt" at weekend Super 14 rugby matches where people dressed as terrorists have been slammed by Police Minister Judith Collins.

Wellington, March 12 NZPA - Schools which rebel against implementing national standards will effectively have to answer to parents, says Prime Minister John Key.

Wellington, March 12 NZPA - The public sector will need to deal with a budget increase which will include only $1.1 billion of new money compared to more than double that in previous years, Finance Minister Bill English says.

Wellington, March 12 NZPA - The design of the ward system in the new Auckland super council means many areas will not be fairly represented, Green MP David Clendon says.

Wellington, March 12 NZPA - A review of transport discounts for the elderly using the SuperGold card is shaping up to be an excuse to make cuts, Labour's transport spokesman Darren Hughes said yesterday.

By Alastair Bull of NZPA Auckland, March 11 NZPA - An Auckland academic says smoking rates in New Zealand would plummet if tobacco products could not be displayed at shops.

Wellington, March 11 NZPA - The Government says it will re-hash existing budgets to provide up to $21 million over five years to set up four centres for food and beverage development at Manukau, Hamilton, Palmerston North, and Lincoln.

Wellington, March 11 NZPA - Property investors have warned that rents could go up by $34 a week if the Government scraps landlords' depreciation claims on housing, but the Government says they are wrong.

Wellington, March 11 NZPA - New Zealand will open trade talks on Monday for a Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) with the United States, Brunei, Chile, and Singapore. The TPP would build on the previously negotiated P4 trade agreement between New Zealand, Brunei, Chile, and Singapore.

Wellington, March 12 NZPA - Rodney District Council is going to fight to stay out of the Auckland super city council, Mayor Penny Webster said today.

Wellington, March 11 NZPA - ACT leader Rodney Hide says Race Relations Commissioner Joris de Bres is advocating separatism by pushing for separate Maori seats on the new Auckland Council.

By Ian Llewellyn of NZPA Wellington, March 11 NZPA - It would cost ACC around $19 billion to meet the solvency levels required by commercial insurance companies, MPs were told today.

Wellington, March 11 NZPA - Banks seem keen to lend more to businesses and households but both sectors have became more cautious as they deal with fallout from the recession, Reserve Bank Governor Alan Bollard told MPs today.

By Maggie Tait of NZPA Wellington, March 11 NZPA - Free off-peak travel for elderly people under the SuperGold card is set to exceed its annual $18 million budget and the Government is looking at ways of reining it in, which may impact on services.

By Alastair Bull of NZPA Auckland, March 11 NZPA - Amid a barrage of Maori people calling for tough controls and the eventual banning of smoking, a tobacco company today asked for current sale display rules to remain the same.

Wellington, March 11 NZPA - Free off-peak travel for elderly people under the SuperGold card is set to exceed its annual $18 million budget and the Government is looking at ways of reining it in which may impact on services.

Wellington, March 11 NZPA - Education, tougher sentences and voluntary accords have been mooted by the Justice Ministry as potential ways to tackle knife crime.

Wellington, March 11 NZPA - MPs are being urged to send to a select committee a bill seeking to cap interest rates that loan sharks charge.

Wellington, March 12 NZPA - The Local Government Commission today released its final decisions on the boundaries and representation arrangements for the new Auckland Council.

Wellington, March 11 NZPA - The transition of Auckland councils into one super city council and concerns about a lack of ethnic representation are prominent in an annual review of race relations being released today by the Human Rights Commission.

Wellington, March 11 NZPA - Some redundancies are inevitable at the Education Ministry as it seeks to prune $25 million from its $441 million budget, Education Secretary Karen Sewell said today.

Wellington, March 11 NZPA - Allowing rich people to retire to New Zealand will create costs on the health system, Labour's immigration spokesman Pete Hodgson said today. The Government has announced two new retirement visas -- temporary retirement and parent retirement.

Wellington, March 10 NZPA - Open Country Dairy chairman Laurie Margrain says National Party MP Shane Ardern, who has chaired parliamentary select committee hearings on dairy regulation, has shown bias in favour of Fonterra in recent comments on the industry.