Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has paid tribute to the help New Zealanders gave in the recent Queensland floods at a business lunch in Auckland today.

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has touched down in NZ for a brief, 28-hour visit. She spoke to media of the two countries' close relationship before heading to a Trans-Tasman Business Circle lunch.

Allowing the Australian Prime Minister to address NZ's Parliament could undermine its sovereignty, the Greens say.

The White House is adamant that genuine and rapid change is needed in Egypt.

Violence and bloodshed could break out in a massive protest march on Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's palace tomorrow, a New Zealander in Cairo reports.

Expat New Zealanders hit by Tropical Cyclone Yasi have joined a growing number of disaster victims denied recovery payments by the Australian Government.

British Defence Secretary Liam Fox slammed other countries for not pulling their weight in Afghanistan.

UK Foreign Secretary William Hague said there was a "deep trust" between NZ and Britain but the relationship could be even closer.

Helen Clark believes WikiLeaks cables showing 'disrespect' for NZ's foreign policy have damaged the US image in NZ.