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.

The Labour caucus backs "the tone and content" of a speech in which Phil Goff accused the Govt of reopening old racial wounds.

John Key says a new review gives parents the go-ahead to lightly smack their children without the fear of prosecution.

The PM has left the door open for Labour to work with the Government on a solution to the problematic foreshore and seabed law.

Labour leader Phil Goff has rubbished claims that his nationhood speech didn't sit well with party president Andrew Little.

Labour's president, Andrew Little, reveals "personal concerns" over Phil Goff's nationhood speech with other Party members also unhappy.

Around 90 per cent of the increases in next year's ACC levies arise from a more conservative approach to ensuring the scheme is adequately funded.

Parliament's repeal of the use of provocation as a partial defence for murder does not have widespread support from the legal community.

The defence of provocation, which can be used to reduce murder to manslaughter, has been abolished.

The Maori Party's ruling council is dismissing reports that it is discussing reneging on a deal over the ETS legislation.

The organisers of a protest in Auckland against the anti-smacking legislation are threatening to take their march to other cities.