Wellington, July 20 NZPA - National MP Tau Henare is back at work and happy to know he has a heart. Mr Henare, 49, was hospitalised after having a heart attack last month. On Facebook Henare described how he had a stent put in to keep blocked arteries open.

Wellington, July 20 NZPA - The possibility of mining in Northland will give the region a chance to contribute more to New Zealand, local MP John Carter says.

By Chris Ormond of NZPA Wellington, July 20 NZPA - Environmental groups are celebrating the Government's decision to abandon plans to open protected conservation land to mineral prospecting, but remain concerned about future mining on Crown land.

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.

Wellington, July 20 NZPA - More mining in Northland and on the West Coast will boost jobs, local MPs says.

Wellington, July 20 NZPA - Energy Minister Gerry Brownlee today confirmed the Government will not remove the protection on conservation land to allow it to be mined. Changes announced included: * No areas will be removed from schedule four of the Crown Minerals Act.

Wellington, July 20 NZPA - Mining on special protected areas of conservation are off the table after public opposition, but there will be more mining in other parts of the country -- including other types of conservation land, the Government says.

Wellington, July 20 NZPA - The Government has confirmed it will not mine protected conservation land -- its biggest backdown since taking office.

Wellington, July 20 NZPA - A union representing meat workers says staff perform under tough and uncertain conditions and is disappointed at suggestions the industry is being negatively affected by deliberate "sickies".

By Peter Wilson and Kate Chapman of NZPA Wellington, July 20 NZPA - Energy Minister Gerry Brownlee will today announce the Government's biggest backdown since taking office -- plans to mine protected conservation land have been scrapped.

Feds pse Q for 0400 Wellington, July 20 NZPA - Unions say more and more cases of unfair dismissal are being reported as people realise the 90-day probation period is going to be extended to cover all workers.

Wellington, July 20 NZPA - Concerns doctors will be swamped with requests for sickness certificates because of employment law changes are groundless, the Government believes.

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 - Fiji's self-appointed Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama has no reason to postpone holding elections in 2014, despite threats to do so, Prime Minister John Key says.

Wellington, July 19 NZPA - Police have issued 126 on-the-spot safety orders for victims of domestic violence since the law came into force at the beginning of this month, Justice Minister Simon Power said today.

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.

Wellington, July 19 NZPA - Prime Minister John Key is defending the Government's employment law changes against a union backlash, saying other countries have probation periods for new workers that are much longer than 90 days.

Wellington, July 19 NZPA - A review of the Overseas Investment Act will be released later this week, Prime Minister John Key says. Last year the Government announced the vast majority of overseas investment applications would no longer need ministerial approval.

By Maggie Tait of NZPA Wellington, July 19 NZPA - Employees should not be worried about getting a medical certificate if they are genuinely unwell, Labour Minister Kate Wilkinson says. "It shouldn't worry any employee who is not trying to pull a sickie," she told NZPA.

Wellington, July 19 NZPA - A United Nations expert on indigenous peoples rights will look at issues surrounding Treaty of Waitangi settlements and socio-economic issues faced by Maori during his six day visit to New Zealand.

Wellington, July 19 NZPA - A hike in the number of jobs advertised online is good news for the economy and labour market, a new report says. The Labour Department's jobs online monthly report found strong growth in the three months to the end of May.

Wellington, July 19 NZPA - New Zealand is to establish an embassy in the United Arab Emirates. Foreign Minister Murray McCully said the embassy would be in the capital Abu Dhabi where he today met his UAE counterpart Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan.

Wellington, July 18 NZPA - A decision on proposals to mine on conservation land was likely today, Prime Minister John Key says.

Wellington, July 19 NZPA - Sweeping changes to labour laws were "moderate", Prime Minister John Key says as unions, the Labour and Green parties and others say workers will lose rights.

NZPA political reporters Wellington, July 19 NZPA - The Government's employment law changes have provoked furious criticism from unions and the Labour Party.

Wellington, July 18 NZPA - A lack of interest in the Health Ministry's top job shows concerns about the Government's direction for the sector, Labour and the Greens say. However the Government says it is just a matter of getting the right person for the job.

Wellington, July 18 NZPA - Cabinet will tomorrow consider and possibly make decisions on proposals to mine on conservation land, Prime Minister John Key says.

Wellington, July 18 NZPA - The Government is attacking Kiwi workers' conditions and wages, unions and the Labour Party say after Prime Minister John Key announced extensive labour law changes.

Auckland, July 18 NZPA - Quips and quotes from the National Party conference. "I'm going to get rid of the Treasury and replace it with Paul the octopus." Prime Minister John Key says he has some good news for Finance Minister Bill English.

Auckland, July 18 NZPA - Protesters at the National Party conference in central Auckland's Sky City pushed their way through security cordons and attempted to enter the building to show their opposition to newly introduced labour laws.