Family First NZ is welcoming the government's plan to introduce a bill to strengthen the Crimes Act to deal with child assault, neglect, and ill treatment of children, but says that the laws surrounding the right to silence should be part of the review.

Nine new panel members have been appointed to the Human Rights Review Tribunal, Justice Minister Simon Power announced today.

Those appointed are:

* Gavin Cook, JP - of North Shore, served as a panel member of the tribunal from 1999-2005.

Health Minister Tony Ryall has announced that Mr Rea Wikaira is the new chair of the Alcohol Advisory Council (ALAC), and there are two new board members.

He iti te pū, he nui te kōrero. Ka haere kotahi tātou ki te pūaotanga o te tau hou i runga i tō tatou tino rangatiratanga.

[One small letter can mean so much. Let us all look forward to the dawning of a new year and the emergence of our collective self-determination].

Wanganui Mayor Michael Laws today said that the rejection of the NZ Geographic Board's decision to rename 'Wanganui' as 'Whanganui' was "an early Christmas present for the city and district, and effectively allows us to determine our own identity and destiny".

Cabinet has moved to implement a raft of recommendations on the legal aid system, just three weeks after Dame Margaret Bazley's review was released.

Today's news that the total area of forest in New Zealand has reduced by 14,000 hectares highlights the need for sustainable Green New Deal forestry solutions, the Green Party said today.

The Government is to introduce a bill to strengthen the Crimes Act to deal with violent offending against children, and to modernise the law of assault and injuring, Justice Minister Simon Power said today.

Revelations today that ill elderly people are being turned away from rest homes because of the cost of care provides yet more evidence that the sector desperately needs an overhaul, Labour's Aged Care spokesperson Luamanuvao Winnie Laban said.

With Christmas fast approaching New Zealanders should be aware of their rights under the Consumer Guarantees Act (CGA) before making purchasing decisions or buying an extended warranty, Minister of Consumer Affairs Heather Roy said today.