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

Wellington, May 30 NZPA - Labour is continuing to question the approval of $4.8 million in the budget for the Pacific Economic Development Agency (Peda), but the group's founder says it will be justified.

Wellington, May 29 NZPA - Labour MP Pete Hodgson says Prime Minister John Key still has questions to answer about the blind trust that holds his assets.

Wellington, May 28 NZPA - Prime Minister John Key has accused the Labour Party of running a smear campaign against him and says he has legal advice which "utterly refutes" its allegation that he misled Parliament over the blind trust holding his assets.

Wellington, May 28 NZPA - Prime Minister John Key today accused the Labour Party of "muckraking" and released legal advice he said refuted its allegations about his assets.

Wellington, May 27 NZPA - The Government has extended the 90-day trial period for new employees to its Job Ops scheme and Labour says young workers could be exploited.

Wellington, May 27 NZPA - Solo mum Natasha Fuller asked for compensation from Social Development Minister Paula Bennett after seeking legal advice, Labour MP Charles Chauvel says.

Wellington, May 27 NZPA - The Labour Party will introduce a Member's Bill aimed at reinstating a democratically elected Environment Canterbury council, Labour leader Phil Goff says.

Wellington, May 27 NZPA - Prime Minister John Key says Kiwibank chief executive Sam Knowles, who resigned yesterday, would have been a strong candidate to run New Zealand Post if he had wanted the job.

Wellington, May 27 NZPA - The Labour Party believes the Government is facing so much opposition to mining conservation land it will again reduce the area its proposals cover.

By Chris Ormond of NZPA Wellington, May 26 NZPA - A mining company has given more ammunition to those opposing mineral prospecting on protected land by signalling its own reservations about digging up pristine areas.

Wellington, May 26 NZPA - Prime Minister John Key says he wasn't surprised to learn Kiwibank chief executive Sam Knowles had announced his resignation. "He told me some time ago he was thinking of standing down," Mr Key told reporters.

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

Wellington, May 23 NZPA - Prime Minister John Key was today still dampening down concerns that his Government would sell off Kiwibank.

Wellington, May 25 NZPA - Education Minister Anne Tolley thinks most early childhood education centres (ECEs) won't pass on the cost of funding changes announced in the budget.

Wellington, May 25 NZPA - Over 33,000 submissions have been received on the Government's mining proposals before the deadline tomorrow and it is likely to take a few weeks before there is any official response.

Wellington, May 25 NZPA - Thousands of submissions on the Government's mining proposals were fed into a makeshift letterbox outside the Ministry of Economic Development in Wellington today in a public show of opposition before submissions close tomorrow.

Feds pse Q for 0400 Wellington, May 25 NZPA - A row over rising costs has started, with Labour saying families are going to be hit hard by the budget and the emissions trading scheme.

Wellington, May 25 NZPA - If the Government sells state-owned assets they will end up in foreign hands, the Labour Party says.

]Wellington, May 24 NZPA - The Labour Party is questioning a $4.8 million budget allocation to a private company so it can boost the living standards of Pacific communities in Auckland.

Wellington, May 24 NZPA - The Labour Party is questioning a $4.8 million budget allocation to a private company so it can boost the living standards of Pacific communities in Auckland.

Wellington, May 24 NZPA - The Ministry of Defence wants to sell up to 35 of the army's 105 light armoured vehicles, it was reported tonight.

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 23 NZPA - The Government has not done any work on part-floating state owned enterprises (SOEs) Finance Minister Bill English said today, but the opposition believes otherwise.

Wellington, May 21 NZPA - Health Minister Tony Ryall is defending claims the extra health funding announced in yesterday's budget is way short of what is needed and will place the health system under extreme pressure.

Wellington, May 21 NZPA - After a final assault by the Labour Party, Parliament has passed legislation giving effect to the budget's tax reforms.

By Kate Chapman of NZPA Wellington, May 21 NZPA - Parents may have to pay more for early childhood education (ECE) but Finance Minister Bill English says changes were necessary now to avoid "drastic decisions" in the future.

By Peter Wilson of NZPA Wellington, May 21 NZPA - Parliament is on track to pass legislation today that will enact the biggest tax system shake up in a quarter of a century.

By Kate Chapman of NZPA Wellington, May 20 NZPA - The parents of tens of thousands of children face increased costs for early childhood education (ECE). Estimates of the possible fee increase range from $25-$42 a week per child after the budget was released today.

By Kate Chapman of NZPA Wellington, May 20 NZPA - Labour leader Phil Goff says people on an average income will be $30 a week worse off under the budget's tax changes, a direct contradiction of the Government's figures.