The Labour Party is accusing a senior minister of being in contempt of Parliament, saying he misled the House when The Hobbit movie project was under threat of being moved overseas.

The father of a miner who died at Pike River has accused police and the Government of withholding information that shows bodies may be recovered intact from the explosion-hit coal mine.

Receivers of the company that owns the Pike River mine say it is unlikely the bodies of the 29 workers will ever be recovered.

Growing problems for New Zealanders trying to obtain British visas will be up for discussion in talks with British ministers this week. From April, the number is to be limited to 21,700 a year, compared to about 28,000 in 2009.

Politicians and unions are calling on the Government to move public holidays that fall on weekends to Monday as workers face losing two days off in 2011.

Up to 50 redundant Pike River Coal mine employees could soon be crossing the Tasman to take up lucrative positions in Australian pits.

Workers go looking for a new job for a different challenge or because they feel unappreciated, a survey has found.

Customers claim businesses are being greedy in adding surcharges on days not officially holidays.

Listen out for the sound of waves crashing on the shoreline and birdsong in the trees - not the ringtone of your company phone.

The Coronial Inquest into the deaths of 29 men in the Pike River Coal mine will be held early next year, the chief coroner Judge MacLean says.

The Government is to allow private insurers to compete with the Accident Compensation Corporation.

A businessman who manipulated the company payroll to give himself a $10,000 payrise, has been sentenced to 200 hours' community work.