Speculation over Prime Minister Julia Gillard's leadership has reached a new pitch after a sudden shift among MPs dismayed at the state of the Government and the looming defeat of a key media reform package.

Revenue Minister and United Future leader Peter Dunne suffered a second setback less than 24 hours after his carpark tax was dumped.

Three out of four people back a law change to allow "correctional" smacking of children, a poll has found - but a child advocacy group says smacking is still unacceptable.

A genuinely secular state has no place in the finery and stresses of the weird and often wonderful ritual of a wedding, writes Toby Manhire.

After months of emotional submissions and some bitter protest, a bill to legalise same-sex marriage appears likely to pass another hurdle.

Sue Kedgley looks at the Government's decision to remove charter schools and partially privatised state-owned enterprises from coverage of the Official Information Act.

The government administration select committee report to Parliament recommends the passing of the Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Bill with certain amendments.

The unresolved issue of Maori water rights may yet have an impact on Mighty River's future operating costs.

New Zealand has become the second country in the world to approve plain cigarette packets.

They are public offices carrying out public functions. The act applies to most other public agencies and there is no reason at all why it shouldn't apply to these.

South Korea's decision to allow the introduction of covered bonds will help to diversify the Asia-Pacific regional covered bond market.

Sensible Sentencing Trust spokesman Garth McVicar is standing by his claim that legalising gay marriage could increase crime, despite a backlash on social media.

Aucklanders' rates have given a $46 million boost to 10 rescue, safety, arts and cultural groups in the past four years and a further $14 million gift is proposed for the 2013-14 year.

Justice Minister Judith Collins has backtracked on a law change that would have ensured compensation for ill-treatment of prisoners by the state was used to benefit victims rather than being given to the inmates.

Editorial: The charter schools proposal has not been so contentious that the Government would fear its exposure to criticism. Since the critics are mostly busy teachers the legislative calendar might have done them a favour,

The Government has ignored a recommendation by the United Nations for legislation to dictate a maximum number of work hours to reduce the risk to workplace health and safety.

To disguise what it is doing, the Beehive has ordered the Ministry for the Environment to abandon the five-yearly State of the Environment round-up report, writes Neville Peat.

New Zealand's health and safety record has been labelled as 'woeful' and a 'national disgrace' by a consultant with two decades' experience in the sector.

From time to time, there is an eruption of concern about the dangers posed by quad bikes.

On Saturdays, Hobart's Salamanca Place hosts a market visited by thousands of locals and tourists.