John Key must assure all New Zealanders that his major restructuring of government departments will not affect the quality of services, Labour's State Services spokesperson Grant Robertson said today.

A number of New Zealand's Government agencies have just finished participating in an INTERPOL coordinated operation targeting the illegal trade in traditional medicines containing wildlife products.

The Green Party will be introducing amendments to strengthen the Animal Welfare Amendment Bill, said the Green Party's animal welfare spokesperson Sue Kedgley.

Forestry Minister David Carter today released the Government's future strategy for the Crown's West Coast plantation forests, which aims to keep as much production and employment on the Coast as possible.

New Zealand's wheat, barley, and maize grain harvests increased in the year ended 30 June 2009, Statistics New Zealand said today.

Wellington, Feb 16 NZPA - A German tourist due to leave the country this week has pleaded guilty to possessing 16 rare geckos from the Otago Peninsula after the lizards were found in his backpack.

The Prime Minister's 2010 statement to Parliament today shows John Key has been listening to Federated Farmers prescription to grow the economy.

"New Zealand can pass Australia because we have the water and they don't," says Don Nicolson, President of Federated Farmers.

Prime Minister, the Hon John Key MP`, is due to make a "state of the nation" speech tomorrow setting out what his Government will seek to achieve over the next 12 months.

Wellington, Feb 7 NZPA - A man who fed live kittens to his pitbull claims he is "an animal lover".

But SPCA national chief inspector Charles Cadwallader says Te Ahu Aaron Mankelow is "lying his teeth off".

Wellington, Feb 5 NZPA - Beekeepers are warning the country's growing honey trade with the United States will suffer if Australian honey products are allowed into New Zealand.