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.

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 10 NZPA - The days of affordable fuel are coming to an end and the Government needs to rein in its spending on roading infrastructure and target alternative transport, the Green Party says.

By Kent Atkinson of NZPA Wellington, March 6 NZPA - A trans-Tasman review of food labelling looks set to also canvass whether risky foods from overseas are being sent to Australia from New Zealand.

Wellington, March 3 NZPA - The Government has lost the bottle to take on the problem of drink driving and is making young people the scapegoat in its latest measures to tackle the country's road toll, say political and road safety groups.

Wellington, March 3 NZPA - The Government is to consider tracking abusive mothers throughout their lives -- one of several recommendations in a new report out today.

Wellington, March 3 NZPA - Concerns have been raised over the possibility of workers being stripped of rights under changes to personal grievance rules.

Wellington, March 2 NZPA - Special Air Services (SAS) troops first confirmed battle action in Afghanistan was observed by a French photographer who described them as operating quietly.

Wellington, March 1 NZPA - The public will get a chance to express their view on changes to the conservation estate to allow mining later this month.

Wellington, March 1 NZPA - Green MP Keith Locke remains confident his bill to initiate debate about having an elected head of state will pass its first reading, despite Prime Minister John Key saying his party is opposed.

Wellington, March 1 NZPA - A Green Party attempt to initiate a debate about having an elected head of state in New Zealand isn't going to get very far. MP Keith Locke drafted the member's bill, which is on Parliament's agenda for a first reading.

Wellington, March 1 NZPA - Cabinet will today start discussing mining on conservation land but decisions might not be taken right away, Prime Minister John Key says.

Wellington, Feb 25 NZPA - Parliament has unanimously supported a bill that significantly increases penalties for cruelty to animals. The Government's Animal Welfare Amendment Bill passed its first reading today, with MPs praising its provisions and saying they were necessary.

Wellington, Feb 25 NZPA - More than 100 people, some carrying transistors tuned in to Radio New Zealand, turned up outside Parliament today to protest a funding freeze.

Wellington, Feb 24 NZPA - New Green MP Gareth Hughes used his maiden speech in Parliament today to talk about his environmental passions and take a swipe at the major parties for what he considers environmentally destructive and unsustainable policies.

Wellington, Feb 22 NZPA - Green Party co-leader Russel Norman has attacked the review of water management in Canterbury, saying it is pandering to the self-interest of dairy farmers

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 22 NZPA - People were being more realistic about the economy, Prime Minister John Key said this morning following a poll last night showing reduced confidence.

Wellington, Feb 21 NZPA - New Zealand has come out of recession but confidence that the economy will get better over the next 12 months is slightly down compared to November, a new poll out tonight shows.

(Adds comment) Wellington, Feb 18 NZPA - A new code covering the welfare of dairy cattle was released today, but it does not take into account factory farming.

Wellington, Feb 18 NZPA - The Advertising Standards Authority has upheld a Green Party complaint about the way Demon Energy Drink's website used images and language to market drinks to children, MP Sue Kedgley said today.

Wellington, Feb 18 NZPA - A cost-cutting directive from the Government to Radio New Zealand (RNZ) has been taken by unions and opposition MPs as political interference and a blow to the public broadcaster's ability to maintain standards and independence.

Wellington, Feb 17 NZPA - The Labour Party is questioning Justice Minister Simon Power's commitment to the controversial three strikes sentencing policy, after finding out the legislation has been handed over to Police Minister Judith Collins.

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.

Wellington, Feb 17 NZPA - Changes could be made to the Government's proposed election finance rules if political parties could agree on the them, Justice Minister Simon Power said today.

Wellington, Feb 17 NZPA - Labour and the Greens aren't happy with proposed legislation to replace the repealed Electoral Finance Act.

Wellington, Feb 16 NZPA - During the 1984 election Labour promised to set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the electoral system.

Wellington, Feb 16 NZPA - Removing limits on how much lobby groups can spend supporting their political allies during election campaigns is set to be a political battleground again.

Wellington, Feb 12 NZPA - A proposed law change to cut ACC entitlements and coverage has passed select committee scrutiny with only minor changes.

By Alastair Bull of NZPA Auckland, Feb 11 NZPA - The Drug Foundation has called on politicians to "engage constructively" with a Law Commission report calling for a relaxing of drug laws relating to personal use.