Maori will refuse to forgo their rights to the foreshore and seabed unless private owners do the same, an iwi leaders' group has warned.

The Government has embarked on a path to abolish building depreciation on virtually every building type and could hit depreciation claims on commercial building fit-outs in future, says Bayleys Valuations director John Freeman.

The three-strikes legislation will become law, after the National-Act Party bill passed its third reading in Parliament last night.

A US judge says 'three strikes' laws can result in unfair sentences, have a limited deterrent effect and make it too easy to ignore rehabilitation.

The King's College mother who has challenged the Govt to act on alcohol issues says it is wrong to isolate the problem on the purchase age.

John Key says research, science and technology will get the biggest boost after health and education in next week's Budget.

Thousands of protesters rallied in cities across America demanding that President Obama tackle immigration reform immediately.

Australia is poised to introduce the world's harshest anti-smoking laws, with tobacco companies forced to sell cigarettes in plain packets resembling prescription drug packs.