Wellington, July 27 NZPA - Labour leader Phil Goff favours lowering the blood alcohol limit for drivers.

Wellington, July 27 NZPA - A review of the overseas investment regime is likely to look at how to stop the sell-off large tracts of land to foreign buyers, Prime Minister John Key indicated today. The review was started by Finance Minister Bill English in March last year and aimed at:

Wellington, July 26 NZPA - An examination of local government and its role -- including further amalgamations -- was announced by Local Government Minister Rodney Hide this morning.

Wellington, July 26 NZPA - The Government has attempted to kick the issue of drink driving into touch by postponing a decision on whether to lower the blood alcohol, Labour says.

Wellington, July 26 NZPA - Unions continue to voice strong opposition to sweeping new labour laws announced by the Government, saying the move is attack on workers' rights.

Wellington, July 25 NZPA - The National Party is still focused on fossil fuels, and its draft energy strategy is light on setting out plans on how to achieve a goal of 90 percent renewable energy by 2025, says Labour.

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 23 NZPA - A petition launched by Labour MP Darien Fenton calls for an inquiry into whether there is a link between truck driver remuneration and safety in the road transport industry.

Wellington, July 22 NZPA - Energy Minister Gerry Brownlee today blamed the biofuel industry for the low uptake of a scheme to promote it. A scheme was introduced in July last year to kick start biofuel production in New Zealand.

Wellington, July 22 NZPA - The economy is showing positive signs of rebalancing with reducing household debt and growth in the tradeables sector, Finance Minister Bill English says.

Wellington, July 22 NZPA - Fresh-faced Labour MP Chris Hipkins' voice broke in Parliament today. The MP, who is aged in his early 30s, had a bad cold and croaked through his questions while getting a ribbing from the National benches.

Feds pse Q for 0400 Wellington, July 22 NZPA - The Government's plan to award lucrative state sector contracts to "a cosy club of multinational suppliers" will cut competition and lock out local businesses, the Labour Party says.

Wellington, July 22 NZPA - Australian companies are lining up for a piece of the action as the Government moves towards public-private partnerships (PPPs) to build and maintain new schools.

Wellington, July 21 NZPA - The Government has killed a bill that would have regulated loan sharks and capped the interest rates they charge.

Wellington, July 21 NZPA - Rodney District Council's last ditch bid to avoid being swallowed up by Auckland has failed.

By Chris Ormond of NZPA Wellington, July 21 NZPA - The Government has taken another step towards public-private partnerships (PPPs) in the building and maintenance of schools, but Labour and an education union say the only winners will be the companies involved.

By Chris Ormond of NZPA Wellington, July 21 NZPA - The Government is moving on from its backdown over mineral prospecting on protected conservation land and remains bullish about encouraging mining elsewhere in the face of concern from environmentalists.

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

Wellington, July 21 NZPA - If people want to disassociate themselves from students' associations when undertaking tertiary study they should not be able to do so simply for financial advantage, says former finance minister David Caygill.

Wellington, July 21 NZPA - Opposition MPs have welcomed the moratorium placed on new major irrigation consents on Canterbury's Hurunui River but want further protection.

By Chris Ormond of NZPA Wellington, July 21 NZPA - The Government is moving on from its backdown over mineral prospecting on protected conservation land and remains bullish about encouraging mining elsewhere in the face of concern from environmentalists.

The Labour Party is taunting the Government for what it describes as "a humiliating backdown" over mining conservation land, but the industry doesn't see it that way. 

Wellington, July 20 NZPA - New tenancy laws passed in Parliament today will clear up confusion around terminating and renewing tenancies and introduce financial penalties for tenants who harass neighbours and landlords providing sub-standard housing, Housing Minister Phil Heatley says.

By Maggie Tait of NZPA Wellington, July 20 NZPA - Specially protected areas of conservation land won't be mined but it looks like open season for other parts of the country.

Wellington, July 20 NZPA - A members bill to stop loan sharks is up for its first reading tomorrow night but the Labour MP behind it is fearful it will be voted down.

By Maggie Tait of NZPA Wellington, July 20 NZPA - Mining on specially protected conservation areas was not worth the negative impact on the industry, the Government said today while backing down from its proposals to do just that.

By Chris Ormond of NZPA Wellington, July 20 NZPA - National's U-turn on mining is a forced and humiliating back-down rather than a case of the party listening to the people, Labour leader Phil Goff says.

Wellington, July 20 NZPA - Labour Party president Andrew Little has confirmed he is seeking to contest the New Plymouth seat at next year's elections.

By Peter Wilson and Kate Chapman of NZPA Wellington, July 19 NZPA - The Government has scrapped plans to mine conservation land in the face of furious public protest, NZPA has confirmed.

Wellington, July 19 NZPA - The Government is expected to tomorrow announce a back-down on mining in conservation land, in the wake of furious protests.