By Chris Ormond and Kate Chapman of NZPA Wellington, July 23 NZPA - Money could be put into improving teacher training so they were equipped to deal with special needs students, Associate Education Minister Heather Roy says.

Wellington, July 21 NZPA - The 69-year-old man with Parkinson's disease and possible dementia who was charged with assault after grabbing the breasts of a woman in his care home would be excused from trial if he was found to have a mental impairment, Police and Corrections Minister Judith Collins

By Peter Wilson of NZPA Auckland, July 18 NZPA - Around 500 trade unionists banged drums and bellowed protests outside the National Party's annual conference today while inside it delegates cheered Prime Minister John Key as he announced sweeping changes to employment law.

Wellington, July 16 NZPA - A task force calling for extreme cuts to government spending has spent its whole three-year budget to pay its chairman, former National leader Don Brash, in one year.

Wellington, July 6 NZPA - Cabinet has signed off the final structure of Auckland's council controlled organisations, Local Government Minister Rodney Hide says.

Wellington, June 30 NZPA - On the eve of the emissions trading scheme (ETS) coming largely into effect Climate Change Minister Nick Smith was still squaring up to opposition and facing calls for the scheme to be reviewed or delayed.

Wellington, June 28 NZPA - The Government is seeking public submissions on the Regulatory Responsibility Bill.

The Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) is complex, confusing and difficult to get agreement on, but as New Zealand prepares for its impact from July 1 Climate Change Minister Nick Smith is confident the right balance has been struck. CHRIS ORMOND of NZPA reports.

Wellington, June 22 NZPA - The Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) comes widely into force late next week, but farmers from around the country are still hitting the streets in protest.

Wellington, June 22 NZPA - The Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) comes widely into force late next week, but farmers from around the country are still hitting the streets in protest.

Wellington, June 17 NZPA - Three member's bills were drawn from the ballot today, and none of them looks likely to get across-the-board support. ACT's Sir Roger Douglas said he was pleased his Education (Board of Trustee Freedom) Amendment Bill was drawn.

Wellington, June 11 NZPA - With less than three weeks until the emissions trading scheme (ETS) starts, the ACT party is still determined to see it delayed.

Wellington, June 4 NZPA - National is back to its 50 percent-plus rating in an opinion poll taken after last month's budget and released tonight. The New Zealand Roy Morgan poll put National on 52.5 percent, up four points, while Labour lost 3.5 points and went down to 30 percent.

By Peter Wilson of NZPA Wellington, June 3 NZPA - Parliament has passed the legislation that sets up Auckland's new super city council.

Wellington, June 3 NZPA - Discussion about the cost of looming redundancies resulting from the merging of councils in Auckland is premature and unfair to staff who are affected by the changes, says Local Government Minister Rodney Hide.

Wellington, June 1 NZPA - The Reserve Bank has told the Government it won't take account of an inflation spike caused by the emissions trading scheme.

Wellington, May 30 NZPA - National's popularity has taken a dip, a new poll shows.

Wellington, May 16 NZPA - The ACT Party's claims about rising costs in the agriculture sector from 2013 under the emissions trading scheme (ETS) are misleading, Climate Change Minister Nick Smith said today.

Wellington, May 26 NZPA - Penal reformers say the "three strikes" legislation passed by Parliament is a blot on the judicial landscape and is diverting attention from rehabilitation.

Wellington, May 26 NZPA - Crime should drop 10-20 percent under the controversial "three strikes" legislation passed by Parliament yesterday, ACT MP David Garrett says.

Wellington, May 26 NZPA - The Government is concerned about the campaign the ACT Party is running against the emissions trading scheme and says figures it is spreading around about the cost are misleading.

By Maggie Tait of NZPA Wellington, May 25 NZPA - The Government is keeping an open mind about future inclusion of agriculture in its emissions trading scheme (ETS), Agriculture Minister David Carter says.

Wellington, May 25 NZPA - The Government's controversial `three strikes' legislation has been passed by Parliament.

Auckland, May 24 NZPA - The final legislation covering the reform of Auckland's local governance has received a mixed reaction from the city's mayors and business organisations.

Wellington, May 19 NZPA - The ACT Party has put up an alternative budget which would use $3.1 billion of "government waste" to help fund income tax cuts much more generous than the Government is planning.

Wellington, May 10 NZPA - Mining conservation land, the emissions trading scheme and the Foreshore and Seabed Act are emerging as problem areas for the Government mid-way through its first term.

By Kent Atkinson of NZPA Wellington, May 6 NZPA - Niwa denies ACT Party leader Rodney Hide's claim that it has misled cabinet ministers over temperature measurements showing global warming in New Zealand.

Wellington, May 6 NZPA - Tainui and the Crown will jointly govern, restore and protect the Waikato River under the terms of a Treaty of Waitangi settlement enacted by Parliament today.

Wellington, May 6 NZPA - ACT Party leader Rodney Hide alleges state science company Niwa has misled cabinet ministers over New Zealand's official temperature measurements pertaining to global warming.

Wellington, May 5 NZPA - ACT MP Sir Roger Douglas put up a bill in Parliament tonight that would have abolished all tariffs on imported goods, and saw it go down to a 116-5 defeat. Sir Roger said tariffs made goods dearer and people poorer.