11 March 2009 - Environment Minister Nick Smith today stated that five programmes led by the Ministry for the Environment would be discontinued or scaled back to ensure the Government could afford to meet its priorities for the environment.

11 March 2009 - New Zealand's next Permanent Representative to the United Nations will be Jim McLay, Foreign Minister Murray McCully announced today.

"Jim McLay brings a wealth of experience to a position of great importance for New Zealand," Mr McCully said.

Conservation Minister Tim Groser says the long running campaign to save the kakapo has reached a new milestone today with confirmation that the population of threatened birds has cracked through the 100 mark.

10 March 2009 - A Bill that takes some useful steps to streamline the building consent process received its first reading in Parliament today.

10 March 2009 - The Government has secured funding that will ensure the immediate future of New Zealand's 27 community law centres, Justice Minister Simon Power announced today at the annual meeting of the Coalition of Community Law Centres in Wellington.

10 March 2009 - Cut backs at the Ministry for Environment once again show the Government is intending to drastically reduce the public service, Labour's State Services spokesperson Grant Robertson said.

10 March 2009 - A Bill which corrects historic oversights, errors or omissions relating to land status has been referred by Parliament to the Primary Production Select Committee.

10 March 2009 - Pansy Wong admitted in Parliament today that she was not even consulted when the National Government scrapped the pay equity reviews for social workers and school support staff, says Labour spokesperson on Women's Affairs, Sue Moroney.

10 March 2009 - Labour Party Justice Spokesperson Lianne Dalziel today spoke at the Community Law Centre AGM focussing on finding a resolution to the funding crisis facing this service.

10 March 2009 - Labour law and order spokesperson Clayton Cosgrove says he agrees with Prime Minister John Key that Corrections head Barry Matthews needs to set high standards, but Mr Key should be demanding similar standards from Corrections Minister Judith Collins.