Labour leader Phil Goff has welcomed the announcement that Mike Moore is to be appointed the next New Zealand Ambassador to Washington.

Wellington, Jan 20 NZPA - Mike Moore, a former Labour prime minister who has headed the World Trade Organisation, is to be New Zealand's next ambassador to the United States.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully will make the announcement this afternoon.

Inventors, activists, gang and community workers, survivors, environmentalists, business leaders and Olympians are all included in the diverse list of finalists announced today for the inaugural New Zealander of the Year Awards.

Wellington, Dec 31 NZPA - Helen Clark tops the New Year Honours, being appointed a member of the Order of New Zealand (ONZ) and filmmaker Peter Jackson is made a Knight.

By Kevin Norquay of NZPA

Wellington, Dec 31 NZPA - Just over a year after being voted out of office, former prime minister Helen Clark has been placed back on a pedestal, saying her elevation to elite New Zealander in the New Year Honours is a "privilege".

Politically, the year 2009 was (to paraphrase an old Bill Clinton campaign adage) all about the economy, stupid!

+12

KiwiRail's new track maintenance fleet was commissioned today, part of a $25 million project to improve the efficiency and quality of New Zealand's rail track maintenance.

Twenty-four new appointments, reappointments and positional changes across 10 SOE boards and two airport boards were announced today by State Owned Enterprises Minister Simon Power.

WEDNESDAY, 7 OCTOBER 2009 4.30PM

Labour Leader Phil Goff leaves for the US tonight for talks with senior members of the US Administration, Congressmen and the United Nations. He will also be meeting with think tanks and international financial institutions.