By Hamish Stuart of NZPA

Wellington, March 10 NZPA - A Christian farmer and part-time teacher who attacked a government spy base in Marlborough last year said he and two colleagues carried out the action after two decades of protest against the base had proved fruitless.

The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) has revealed damning evidence of continued welfare abuse of Australian sheep in the live export trade to the Middle East, despite Government and Meat and Livestock Australia claims of improving standards.

A draft compromise on whaling released by the International Whaling Commission (IWC) on February 23 set a dangerous precedent that the international community must reject, WWF said.

The Government needs to address serious concerns around a deal between the Ministry of Culture and Heritage and events website Eventfinder, Labour Associate Arts and Culture spokesperson Grant Robertson said.

The New Zealand Government should follow Australia's lead and call for a gradual phasing out of whaling when it meets with members of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) at a special meeting in Florida on 2nd and 3rd March, the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) said today.

Prime Minister John Key today expressed sympathy on behalf of New Zealand to the government and people of Chile following the massive earthquake there.

Good afternoon and thank you for the opportunity to address you today.

Today I will outline my view of the current regulatory environment and explain how I think the Regulatory Responsibility Bill will impact on that environment. But first some context.

An agreement has been signed by Auckland War Memorial Museum, Te Papa Tongarewa, Canterbury Museum and Otago Museum setting in place permanent and responsible guardianship for the William O Oldman Collection, a major compilation of Maori taonga and Polynesian objects held by all four museums.

The President of the International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC) has hailed Minister for the Environment Nick Smith as one of the most well informed politicians he has met.

A visiting international fibre specialist says electricity lines companies are the obvious choice for activating New Zealand's ultra-fast broadband platform.