27 March 2009 - Winning the bid to host America's top travel writers for their annual conference in 2011 is a coup for New Zealand tourism, Associate Minister of Tourism Dr Jonathan Coleman announced today.

The new Government has asked the Nursing Council to work with District Health Boards and the Ministry of Health to expand the role and training of enrolled nurses in New Zealand.

This fulfils a pre-election commitment by the National Party.

New Zealand will join the next round of United Nations negotiations on a future international climate change agreement in Bonn, Germany, from 29 March to 8 April, says Minister for Climate Change Issues, Nick Smith and Associate Minister for Climate Change Issues, Tim Groser.

Labour Leader Phil Goff today renewed his call for a law change giving the Remuneration Authority the power to take economic conditions affecting wage movements of all New Zealanders into account when determining salaries of those in public office.

Prime Minister John Key today congratulated Helen Clark on being named the preferred candidate to run the United Nations Development Programme.

"I am delighted that the UN has announced she is the preferred candidate for the job," says Mr Key.

Wellington, March 27 NZPA - Former Prime Minister Helen Clark has been chosen as the new head of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has picked Miss Clark to succeed Kemal Dervis, Ban's spokeswoman said.

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Wellington, March 26 NZPA - The Government's plan to tighten the rules around the domestic purposes benefit has been put on hold because of the recession.

Family First NZ says that the self defence law needs clarification so that families defending themselves know with certainty what they can do legally.

Labour Leader Phil Goff leaves today for a major conference in Chile at which leading politicians and economic experts will share ideas on ways to tackle urgent global issues such as the world economic and financial crisis.

25 March 2009 - Today's revelation that a 10-year-old working in a Hawkes Bay store sold cigarettes to other minors shows the urgent need to get cigarettes out of sight in shops, Labour Associate Health Spokesperson Iain Lees-Galloway says.