Wellington, May 4 NZPA - ACT MP Sir Roger Douglas says he's not surprised National has decided not to support his bill to get rid of tariffs on imports, and has labelled the party "economically illiterate".

Wellington, May 4 NZPA - Deputy Prime Minister Bill English said National would not support Sir Roger Douglas' Private Members' Bill to get rid of tariffs on imports.

Wellington, May 2 NZPA - National Party backbenchers and senior government ministers want to defer the emissions trading scheme (ETS) after Australia sidelined its own scheme, ACT MP John Boscawen says. The New Zealand scheme was scheduled to begin on July 1.

Wellington, April 29 NZPA - Local Government Minister Rodney Hide has introduced legislation to Parliament which he says will make councils more accountable to ratepayers.

Wellington, April 29 NZPA - The Government's plan to continue with the emissions trading scheme (ETS), despite Australia having decided to put it on hold, has been labelled "rash and foolish" by ACT Party leader Rodney Hide.

Wellington, April 25 NZPA The gap is closing between the two main political parties, but National still has a commanding lead over Labour. According to a 3 News TNS poll issued tonight National is down 4.2 percent to 52.1 percent, while Labour is up 4.2 percent to 33.8 percent.

Wellington, April 23 NZPA - ACC Minister Nick Smith isn't confirming or denying a report that the Government is likely to open up workplace insurance to private competition.

Christchurch, April 22 NZPA - With the seats of the sacked Ecan councillors still warm after their final meeting in Christchurch today, cabinet ministers Rodney Hide and Nick Smith were introducing the newly appointed "repair" commissioners to take their place.

Wellington, April 22 NZPA - It is a "total waste of time" for Maori to try make claims under a United Nations declaration on indigenous rights that New Zealand has just endorsed, Acting Prime Minister Bill English says.

Wellington, April 22 NZPA - Green Party MP Keith Locke has failed in his bid to let New Zealanders decide whether they want to keep a British monarch as head of state or elect their own non-executive president.

Wellington, April 21 NZPA - An ACT Party attempt to reintroduce the youth minimum wage rate was heavily defeated in Parliament tonight. MP Sir Roger Douglas drafted the bill but neither the Government nor the Labour Party would support it and it was voted down 117-5.

Wellington, April 21 NZPA - Labour is accusing the Government of making a secret deal with the Maori Party which it says is severely stressing National's relationship with its partners.

(0400 please) Wellington, April 16 NZPA - United Future leader Peter Dunne is at a loss to explain why the Government has been so slow to implement a lift in the driving age from 15 to 16.

Wellington, April 15 NZPA - The driving age is certain to be raised to 16 after Labour confirmed today it would back the Government's decision to approve the move.

By Kate Chapman of NZPA Wellington, April 15 NZPA - The driving age looks certain to be raised to 16 years-old following Cabinet approval of the move.

By Peter Wilson of NZPA Wellington, March 30 NZPA - The Maori Party turned its back on the Government and voted with Labour in Parliament today when the bill that enacts welfare changes was given its first reading.

Wellington, March 28 NZPA - Local Government Minister Rodney Hide has called for North Shore Mayor Andrew Williams to stand down after a newspaper alleged he urinated outside a council building after a lengthy drinking session in a bar and then drove home in a council-owned car.

Wellington, March 23 NZPA - A taxpayer-funded Maori business development project which has been suspended after allegations of conflicts of interest and questions over value for money is to be reviewed.

Wellington, March 19 NZPA - The ACT Party is calling on the Government to rescind its proposals for a rural broadband rollout which involve Telecom paying a levy of $50 million a year.

Wellington March 19 NZPA - The Council of Trade Unions (CTU) has cautiously backed the proposed Productivity Commission saying if it is designed properly it could help lift wages and living standards

Wellington March 18 NZPA - ACT and National have agreed to set up a new Productivity Commission with statutory independence and a budget of around $5 million, Finance Minister Bill English and Regulatory Reform Minister Rodney Hide said today.

Wellington, March 17 NZPA - A Labour MP's member's bill was defeated on the narrow majority of 62-60 in Parliament tonight.

Wellington, March 17 NZPA - The National Party has ruled out supporting a bill introduced to Parliament by ACT MP Sir Roger Douglas seeking to allow for the reintroduction of youth rates.

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.

Wellington, Feb 28 NZPA - The rules around MPs' expenses are "treacherously complicated" says ACT leader Rodney Hide.

Wellington, Feb 28 NZPA - ACT leader Rodney Hide says he is going to get out and about more this year to sell his party's policies and explain why they are different to National's.

Wellington, Feb 26 NZPA - ACT MP Sir Roger Douglas has warned his party it is in danger of being stranded in the middle ground of politics, and seen by voters as nothing more than an appendix to National.

By Maggie Tait of NZPA Wellington, Feb 23 NZPA - A bill implementing the ACT-National three strikes violent crime policy has been condemned by Justice Ministry officials, but their minister Simon Power says there are measures to ensure it is not unjust.

By Maggie Tait of NZPA

Wellington, Feb 17 NZPA - The Green and Labour Parties are angry over how changes to add the Government-ACT Party three strikes policy to a bill are being done.