Wellington, April 25 NZPA - The deaths of three Air Force crew in an Anzac Day helicopter crash is shocking and saddening, Prime Minister John Key says.

Wellington, April 25 NZPA - Labour was likely to put the top tax rate back up in future if it gets reduced in next month's budget, Leader Phil Goff indicated yesterday.

Wellington, April 25 NZPA - The deaths of three Air Force crew in an this day helicopter crash is shocking and saddening, Prime Minister John Key says.

Wellington, April 24 NZPA - Labour is backing the Government's rejection of the latest proposals to curtail whaling but wants to know more about what it intends doing to end it in the Southern Ocean.

Wellington, April 23 NZPA - The Government has grabbed a comment by Labour's finance spokesman, David Cunliffe, and used it to question whether he should keep his job.

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.

Wellington, April 23 NZPA - District health boards have received record levels of funding this year and will get even more next year, Health Minister Tony Ryall said today after Labour accused him of misleading the public over cuts to patient services.

Wellington, April 23 NZPA - Health Minister Tony Ryall has mislead the public and cut a number of frontline health services, Labour MP Ruth Dyson says.

Wellington, April 23 NZPA - The Labour Party is warning of savage cuts to social services as the Government prepares to shift $1.8 billion of "lower quality" spending to high priority areas.

Wellington, April 22 NZPA - National MPs on Parliament's transport select committee have blocked an inquiry into the link between truck safety and low rates of pay, Labour's Darien Fenton said tonight.

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 - National MPs jeered at Labour in Parliament today when Gerry Brownlee revealed the party was surveying its supporters to find out what sort of image it should present.

Wellington, April 21 NZPA - The Labour Party is backing a National MP's bill to force unions to hold secret ballots on strike action. The member's bill was drafted by Tau Henare and came up for its first reading in Parliament today.

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.

Wellington, April 18 NZPA - Labour leader Phil Goff says Prime Minister John Key is a good politician, but he believes the public will tire of him. Journalists quizzed Mr Goff today over the latest polls that showed National retaining high levels of support.

Wellington, April 19 NZPA - As the Government gets closer to making decisions on mining conservation land, a poll has shown public opinion is nearly evenly divided on the controversial issue.

Wellington, April 19 NZPA - Prime Minister John Keys say universities will not be given carte blanche to raise fees even if the Government changes a policy capping what they can charge.

By Kate Chapman of NZPA Wellington, April 19 NZPA - Wigram MP Jim Anderton is not ruling out running for the Christchurch mayoralty but is undecided. Media reports that he has agreed, or disagreed, to run for the 2021 party were wrong, Mr Anderton said.

Wellington, April 18 NZPA - The latest political poll has recorded National retaining high levels of support. The TVNZ/Colmar Brunton poll put National support on 54 percent and Labour on 33 percent.

By Maggie Tait of NZPA Wellington, April 16 NZPA - Trade Minister Tim Groser says New Zealanders' views will be taken into account when the Government makes any decision about whether to join an Anti Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (Acta).

By Maggie Tait of NZPA Wellington, April 15 NZPA - The decision to send research vessel RV Tangaroa to Singapore for a multi-million dollar upgrade was not just about the money, the head of the National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research (Niwa) says.

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.

Wellington, April 15 NZPA - Finance Minister Bill English says superannuitants will not be worse off if Goods and Services Tax (GST) increases because their payments will be adjusted for price increases, but Grey Power does not believe him.

Wellington - April 14 NZPA - Labour leader Phil Goff has made a pitch for the senior citizens vote, warning that higher prices from a lift in GST would outlast any compensatory increase in superannuation.

Wellington, April 12 NZPA - A condolence book is available for people in New Zealand who want to send a message of support following the death of Polish President Lech Kaczynski and other Polish leaders.

Wellington, April 11 NZPA - Labour MP Rick Barker has drafted a bill to put the interests of victims first by placing the onus on offenders to pay reparation "in full and up front". Mr Barker, Labour's courts spokesman, said today his member's bill would reverse the current situation.

Wellington, April 9 NZPA - Support for National has dropped to its lowest level in a year, but Labour has not benefited from the move according to the latest Roy Morgan NZ poll.

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.