Wellington, March 12 NZPA - The success of the SuperGold card scheme's transport discount should not be a reason to downgrade it, says senior citizens lobby group Grey Power.

Wellington, March 12 NZPA - A review of transport discounts for the elderly using the SuperGold card is shaping up to be an excuse to make cuts, Labour's transport spokesman Darren Hughes said yesterday.

By Maggie Tait of NZPA Wellington, March 11 NZPA - Free off-peak travel for elderly people under the SuperGold card is set to exceed its annual $18 million budget and the Government is looking at ways of reining it in, which may impact on services.

Wellington, July 16 NZPA - New Zealand First leader Winston Peters needs to start being a team player and stop doing what he wants when he wants, one of the party's former MPs, Peter Brown, says.

Wellington, March 9 NZPA - A row over whether a Department of Internal Affairs staffer misled the media has reached Prime Minister John Key, who says he expects the department's chief executive to sort it out.

Wellington, Feb 16 NZPA - The chances of New Zealand First getting back into Parliament are slim -- with or without Winston Peters, says Prime Minister John Key.

Wellington, Feb 15 NZPA - New Zealand First doesn't appear to have settled any of the questions about its future during a meeting of about 100 party members in Auckland on Saturday.

Wellington, Feb 14 NZPA - New Zealand First deputy leader Peter Brown quit his post at a conference in Auckland today. He resigned at the conference, called to discuss the party's future after its disappointing election campaign last year.

Wellington, Feb 13 NZPA - After being bumped out of Parliament in the last election New Zealand First has acknowledged it ran a "awful campaign".

Wellington, Dec 7 NZPA - The first poll since the election has seen most parties retaining their support base, but a large increase in the number of people who think New Zealand is heading in the right direction.

By Ian Llewellyn of NZPA Wellington, Nov 21 NZPA - The final results for the 2008 election are to be declared tomorrow afternoon, but there are unlikely to be any major changes in the shape of Parliament.

Wellington, Nov 11 NZPA - Labour and NZ First have disclosed they received large donations from the wealthy Vela family within 10-days of the election.

Wellington, Nov 10 NZPA - National Party leader John Key says he would have conceded defeat on Saturday night if the election results had shown New Zealand First holding the balance of power.

Wellington, Nov 10 NZPA - Senior Labour Cabinet Minister Phil Goff is ready to take over the leadership of the party if his colleagues want him to. "He's basically saying he's available for the job," a spokesman for Mr Goff told NZPA today.

By Grant Fleming of NZPA Auckland, Nov 9 NZPA - For the 1200 National supporters gathered at the party's election headquarters it was a night to savour. There were villains, a mythical beast, a hero and in the end a fairytale ending.

Auckland, Nov 9 NZPA - Quotes from the election and its aftermath. * "It's over and out for me," Helen Clark concedes defeat and announces she will be handing over the Labour Party leadership before Christmas.

Tauranga, Nov 9 NZPA - The weight of political pedigree behind Winston Peters and New Zealand First failed to save the day.

By Kevin Norquay of NZPA Wellington, Nov 9 NZPA - Twenty nine years after fighting his way into Parliament on a court-ordered recount, Winston Peters was yesterday voted back into the wilderness.

By Peter Wilson of NZPA Wellington, Nov 9 NZPA - National Party leader John Key will start forming a centre-right government this week after winning the general election and ending nine years of Labour reign.

By Rosaleen Macbrayne for NZPA Tauranga, Nov 9 NZPA - New Zealand First is not finished, insists Winston Peters, founder of the 15-year-old political party.

Wellington, Nov 8 NZPA - With 15 percent of the votes counted in the general election, National held a strong lead over Labour with 48 percent against 31 percent of the party vote. The ACT Party, National's partner, had gained 3.5 percent and Labour's ally, the Greens, 6.3 percent.

Wellington, Nov 7 NZPA - National and its partner parties ACT and United Future are poised to win the election, latest opinion polls show.

NZPA political reporters Wellington, Nov 6 NZPA - National has just enough support to win the election but it would take only a small swing for Labour to hold on to power, latest polls show.

Wellington, Nov 6 NZPA - Taita pensioner Helen Scurrah was having a frustrating spot of bother with her Super Gold Card today, when the man who founded it appeared in front of her eyes.

Wellington, Nov 6 NZPA - Even as his silver ministerial BMW cruised past gang houses and pitbulls in Taita today, New Zealand First leader Winston Peters was being labelled a quitter.

By Ian Llewellyn of NZPA Auckland, Nov 6 NZPA - New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has put on hold his push to win back his old seat of Tauranga in a bid to build support in the Rimutaka seat.

Wellington, Nov 4 NZPA - National's John Key set out what he intends doing in his 100 days if he wins the election, the police cleared New Zealand First and another secret tape surfaced during a frenetic day on the campaign trail.

Wellington, Nov 4 NZPA - Winston Peters has been shunned by National, the Greens says they won't work with him as a minister and Labour leader Helen Clark is indicating she's not sure he'll be back anyway.

Wellington, Nov 3 NZPA - National leader John Key says he accepts United Future leader Peter Dunne's assurance he never changed his party's fishing or tax policies for cash.

By Maggie Tait of NZPA Wellington, Nov 3 NZPA - Green Party co-leader Russel Norman today ruled out his party sitting around a Cabinet table with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters.