The reality of National's slashing of jobs in the public sector hit home for staff at the Tertiary Education Commission today as they found out which of them would be losing their jobs, Grant Robertson says.

Budget 2009 will provide $9 million in operating funding and $800,000 in capital funding to upgrade court security over the next four years.

14 May 2009 - Foreign Minister Murray McCully leaves for Brussels on Saturday for New Zealand's regular six-monthly consultations with the European Union, before travelling to Japan.

The National Government's total disregard for the issue of pay equity will continue unless people stand up and ensure National can't sweep it under the carpet, Labour Women's Affairs spokesperson Sue Moroney says.

The axing of the Department of Labour's Pay and Employment Equity Unit yesterday is just another example of National's lack of commitment to human rights and equity issues, said Green Party MP Catherine Delahunty today.

The Government's "smoke and mirrors" funding arrangements for completing the Waterview Connection will inevitably have a serious impact on the rest of New Zealand, says Labour transport spokesperson Darren Hughes.

14 May 2009 - Labour will today move an amendment to the Bill setting up the new Super City which guarantees Maori seats on the proposed Auckland Council, says Labour's Maori Affairs spokesman Parekura Horomia.

14 May 2009 - Career diplomat Mark Ramsden will be New Zealand's new High Commissioner to the Solomon Islands, Foreign Minister Murray McCully announced today.

14 May 2009 - John Key handpicked his candidate Melissa Lee for the Mt Albert by-election, but must now be embarrassed by the silly comments she has made about the motorway funnelling criminals out of Mt Albert," Phil Goff said.

14 May 2009 - The Government's plan to cut tertiary education spending in order to pay for prisons and the probation service is heading in completely the wrong direction, says Labour Tertiary Education Spokesperson Maryan Street.