A National-led Government will lift the number of funded medical student places by a further 200 students over five years, Health spokesman Tony Ryall and Education spokeswoman Anne Tolley announced today.

Food safety concerns can only grow with the start of New Zealand's preferential trade deal with China tomorrow, says the Green Party.

The 'alarming' power price rises announced by Contact Energy for South Island customers will be put under the microscope by government, Commerce Minister Lianne Dalziel and Energy Minister David Parker said today.

National will introduce into Parliament, within 100 days of forming a new Government, a Resource Management Amendment Bill to streamline and simplify the Act, and advance this into law within six months.

National Party Finance spokesman Bill English says Helen Clark's promise of a 'pay jolt' in education coupled with Michael Cullen's comments that he is beyond his comfort zone, clearly mean Labour's future tax cuts are in doubt.

National Party Leader John Key says New Zealand will weather the global credit storm and National has a carefully balanced economic package that will help get the country growing again.

The Labour Government has failed to deliver on its 2005 election promise to hit gangs where it hurts by removing the proceeds of their crimes, says National's Justice & Corrections spokesman, Simon Power.

30 September 2008 - National Party Leader John Key is welcoming the wake-up call delivered by Principal Youth Court Judge Andrew Becroft who has stressed the importance of defusing young "human timebombs" before they explode.

30 September 2008 - The latest figures from the New Zealand Transport Agency and ARTA show that even the recent fall in petrol prices has not been enough to encourage commuters back into their cars.

30 September 2008 - New fishing rules to protect New Zealand's threatened Hector's and Maui's dolphins will come into force for recreational and commercial fishers tomorrow (Wednesday 1 October 2008), Fisheries Minister Jim Anderton said today.