Wellington, Aug 25 NZPA - Education Minister Anne Tolley is furious a Southland school put her signature on a fake letter, and officials are investigating the forgery.

Wellington, Aug 25 NZPA - Prisoners up for parole will be pre-screened to "weed out" those who are unlikely to be granted release, Justice Minister Simon Power said today.

Wellington, Aug 25 NZPA - Expenditure on legal aid has got out of hand and significant steps will have to be taken to rein it back in, Justice Minister Simon Power says.

A bill to reform the legal aid system passed its first reading in Parliament today. The Legal Services Bill gives effect to the Government's reform package announced following Dame Margaret Bazley's critical report into the legal aid system.

Newly elected Prime Minister Hon Danny Philip today said he will make Ministerial appointments in a few days.

He said the appointment process is a difficult task given the different political party ideologies in that formed his coalition group.

Newly elected Solomon Island Prime Minister Hon Danny Philip is pleased with the peaceful public behavior during his election today.

Wellington, Aug 25 NZPA - New interim visas will allow migrants waiting for their visas to be processed to continue working, Immigration Minister Jonathan Coleman says.

It was a bonus for businesses and employees, Dr Coleman said.

Wellington, Aug 25 NZPA - Prime Minister John Key has congratulated new Solomon Islands Prime Minister Danny Philip on his election win and says he looks forward to continuing the relationship between the countries.

Wellington, Aug 25 NZPA - New Zealand has closed the gap on after tax earnings compared with Australia and seen the number of people moving across the Tasman cut by half, the Government says.

Wellington, Aug 25 NZPA - Nurses say proposed alcohol legislation misses the mark by not addressing the availability of cheap booze and is too focused on drinking among young people.