Wellington, April 23 NZPA - The Government will continue to seek a diplomatic solution to whaling although the latest proposal to resolve the problem is unacceptable, Foreign Minister Murray McCully says.

By Kate Chapman of NZPA

Wellington, April 23 NZPA - New Zealand's ACC model is among the best in the world and privatisation should only be allowed if there is evidence it will improve the system, former ACC chairman Ross Wilson says.

Wellington, April 23 NZPA - It is not a surprise that the Government looks likely to privatise areas of the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC), Green Party MP Kevin Hague says.

Wellington, April 22 NZPA - The bill that sets up a referendum on the MMP electoral system passed its first reading in Parliament today on a unanimous vote. The referendum will be held at the same time as the 2011 general election.

Wellington, April 22 NZPA - Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei's Member's Bill to protect New Zealand's wild places has been drawn out of the ballot -- in time to celebrate Earth Day.

Wellington, April 22 NZPA - The Green Party says it is concerned the Government will reduce its contribution to Kiwirail after Transport Minister Steven Joyce said customers and councils needed to pay their share.

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 - Opposition MPs and aid organisations hope they can persuade the Government not to axe funding for programmes they say are helping people in poor countries.

Wellington, April 20 NZPA - Aid programmes may miss out on funding because they do not meet Foreign Minister Murray McCully's agenda, Labour MP Phil Twyford says. The Green Party has also condemned what it sees as political interference in aid work.

Wellington, April 15 NZPA - A primary school could be the next public institution built under a public private partnership (PPP), Infrastructure Minister Bill English says.

Wellington, April 15 NZPA - Locking people up in jails was a job for the state, not for private businesses whose prime motivation would be to make money, Labour's Clayton Cosgrove says.

Wellington, April 12 NZPA - Officials have begun a review of the "claim of right" defence used by the three men accused in the Waihopai spybase sabotage case, Justice Minister Simon Power says.

Wellington, April 9 NZPA - The Green Party wants more information about the Waihopai spybase to be made public.

Wellington, April 9 NZPA - New Zealanders are still in the dark about how the Whanau Ora policy will be implemented or funded, Labour acting social development spokeswoman Ruth Dyson said today.

Wellington, April 8 NZPA - Taking a civil case against the acquitted Waihopai spybase saboteurs would be a "huge waste of taxpayers' money", Green Party MP Keith Locke says.

Wellington, April 7 NZPA - West Coast-Tasman MP Chris Auchinvole has joined at least one local mayor in welcoming a decision granting resource consent for a hydro project on the Mokihinui River.

Wellington, April 7 NZPA - An investigation by opposition parties and Grey Power into the state of aged care has been welcomed by the New Zealand Aged Care Association (NZACA), which is keen to make its own point.

By Kate Chapman of NZPA Wellington, April 7 NZPA - Prime Minister John Key today ruled out delaying the introduction of the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). Despite concerns from businesses the introduction was likely to go ahead in July, Mr Key told reporters.

Wellington, April 7 NZPA - Labour and the Greens are to assist Grey Power in running a nation-wide investigation to "shine the spotlight" on the state of aged care in New Zealand.

Wellington, April 7 NZPA - Conservation groups are condemning a decision to allow a 80-metre high hydro dam to be built on the Mokihinui River north of Westport but many locals are welcoming the project.

Wellington, April 6 NZPA - Allowing a 80-metre high hydro dam to be built on the Mokihinui River north of Westport is wrong, the Green Party says. Meridian Energy today received resource consent for the dam.

Wellington, April 6 NZPA - Green Party MP Keith Locke has leapt to the defence of a Chinese man arrested and charged in his country for publicly protesting in support of tainted milk powder victims, and says the Government should do the same.

Wellington, April 1 NZPA - Agriculture Minister David Carter has dismissed conflict of interest claims aimed at him in Parliament yesterday over a water consent on his Canterbury farm as "scurrilous".

Wellington, April 1 NZPA - A move to extend the weight carrying capacity of heavy trucks is "dangerous and wasteful", says motor industry commentator Clive Matthew-Wilson.

Wellington, March 31 NZPA - Parliament passed a bill through all its stages under urgency tonight to fix a mistake in the Immigration Act.

By Peter Wilson of NZPA

Wellington, March 31 NZPA - Green Party co-leader Russel Norman has asked Auditor-General Lyn Provost to investigate what he says is a potential conflict of interest involving Agriculture Minister David Carter and a proposal to dam the Hurunui River.

Wellington, March 31 NZPA - A move to extend the weight carrying capacity of heavy trucks won't lower the road toll but will compromise the viability of rail and shipping, the Green Party says.

Wellington, March 31 NZPA - Failing to repeal the Foreshore and Seabed Act would mean future governments would be left to deal with decades of grievances, Prime Minister John Key said today