New laws to make sole parents look for work after their youngest children turn 6 will be phased in over several years, the Govt says.

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's green credentials continue to take a hammering.

A proposed three strikes law would have done nothing to prevent some of New Zealand's most notorious killings, critics say.

Homophobia is on rise in Uganda as the government seeks an Anti-Homosexuality Bill and the minister for ethics and integrity insists that it will be every citizen's duty under new laws to denounce anyone they suspect of being gay.

A first-term National Party MP is seeking cross-party support for a law change for harsher penalties in cases of extreme cruelty to animals.

Acting Prime Minister Bill English says the changes make calculating holiday pay rates more transparent.

Unions and the Labour Party have reacted angrily to a Government decision to allow workers to cash in their fourth week of holidays.

A 6-year-old girl was crushed to death before her father's eyes yesterday after her quadbike rolled.

ACC board chairman John Judge today rejected an allegation he had acted politically over levy proposals.

The Govt's ACC levy increases are less than were recommended by the ACC board but still about $200 a year for an average income worker with a car.