Therapists and counsellors say tight new rules for claiming ACC subsidies for sexual abuse counselling have become "a rapists' charter"

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

MPs are pointing to a $50bn increase in the estimated cost of the Govt's proposed ETS changes as evidence of the process being rushed.

A report out today says the government's Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) could cost twice as much as originally estimated.

Court proceedings should be more open and transparent, the Law Commission says.