PM John Key has poured cold water on the idea of allowing holidays that fall on the weekends to be taken on another day.

Hone Harawira has been called to an urgent meeting of the Maori Party's disciplinary and disputes committee on Tuesday as it tries to end the strife over his criticism of its relationship with the Government.

Ructions in the Maori Party are to continue with a disciplinary hearing against Hone Harawira to be held in the second week of February.

Maori Party President Pem Bird says calls to discuss changing the party leadership a 'distraction' ahead of a complaint hearing against Hone Harawira.

The new Australian of the Year, Simon McKeon, has backed his predecessor's calls for a new national flag.

PM Brian Cowen won a confidence vote yesterday in his leadership of Ireland's Fianna Fail Party.

Wellington's mayor has defended a leaked email which suggests councillors learn Te Reo, Mandarin or ballroom dancing to keep 'mentally fit'.

Pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi talks to the Herald about the future of Burma, her family and why Kiwis can make a difference

More than half of all voters support keeping MMP, a new poll shows.

Southern Sudan looks to have voted for secession from the Arab-led north of the country.

It would be dangerous to instantly suggest that the shooting of Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was the product of a poisoned political climate in the United States.

There was something awfully inevitable about the Tucson shooting, writes the Herald's Foreign Editor Nicola Lamb.