26 NOVEMBER 2008 - A very different government may have been sworn in this week had the election been decided by the votes of over 13,000 school students who took part in Kids Voting 2008, a simulated election held alongside the 2008 general election.

26 November 2008 - Justice Minister Simon Power today announced that the Governor-General has appointed six new Community Magistrates for the Waikato/Bay of Plenty region.

25 November 2008 - Women's Affairs Minister Pansy Wong has urged people to reaffirm their opposition to violence against women by wearing a white ribbon this week.

25 November 2008 - "The new government should keep alive a proposal on guaranteed redundancy payments for workers," Council of Trade Unions president Helen Kelly said today.

25 November 2008 - Legislation to clamp down on criminal gangs and drug traders is to be one of the priorities on the new government's 100-day plan, says Police Minister Judith Collins.

20 November 2008 - Prime Minister John Key today said Parliament will open in the week starting 8 December.

Mr Key says the Commission Opening of Parliament is being planned for Monday, 8 December. This is when the new MPs will be sworn in and the Parliament chooses a new Speaker.

20 November 2008 - Prime Minister John Key leaves today for Apec in Lima, Peru, to attend the Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation (Apec) Leader's Summit.

"The summit is vitally important for New Zealand to attend during these times of global economic uncertainty," says Mr Key.

20 November 2008 - Prime Minister John Key will have an Audience with The Queen at Buckingham Palace on November 25.

"It will be a great privilege to be received by Her Majesty," says Mr Key.

20 NOVEMBER 2008 - Labour Party Leader Phil Goff today announced Labour's shadow Cabinet and spokesperson allocation.

20 November 2008 - Defence Minister, Dr Wayne Mapp and Associate Defence Minister Mrs Heather Roy, today joined family and friends farewelling 149 Service personnel deploying to Timor-Leste.