Wellington, Sept 30 NZPA - The Government has signed an agreement in principle with the Hawke's Bay-based iwi Ngati Pahauwera to settle treaty claims.

Wellington, Sept 30 NZPA - A National government would expand the Environmental Risk Management Authority's role into a wider Environmental Protection Agency to create nationwide standards and deal with major consent applications.

Wellington, Sept 30 NZPA - Tax cuts, changes to policing laws and new fishing rules are part of a raft of changes to laws and regulation coming into force from tomorrow.

Wellington, Sept 30 NZPA - A report into the Immigration Service is to be released by the State Service Commission (SSC) on Friday.

The report is one of a series into the service after it was hit by a series of scandals.

Wellington, Sept 30 NZPA - The Government is to scrutinise Contact Energy's decision to hike power prices by 10 percent or more.

Commerce Minister Lianne Dalziel and Energy Minister David Parker said they would raise the issue with Cabinet and seek a broad inquiry.

By Grant Fleming of NZPA

Wellington, Sept 30 NZPA - National is promising to tackle New Zealand's doctor shortage by boosting the number of medical student places by 200 a year.

National Party Energy spokesman Gerry Brownlee says a statement from two senior Labour Ministers on power prices today is a damning indictment on the current Government's cynical approach to the 2008 election.

Green Party MP Keith Locke says the Police Association should not be justifying the excessive use of pepper spray in police cells.

Green Party Co-Leader Russel Norman says the National Party's plans to reform the Resource Management Act are a misguided 'business-first, community-second, environment-last' policy.

Wellington, Sept 30 NZPA - The New Zealand Defence Force will continue to offer the services of an officer to the peacekeeping mission to Iraq for another year.