A Northland hapu leader says flying the "tino rangatiratanga" flag at the Treaty grounds during Waitangi celebrations would be a breach of treaty rights.

The Ministry of Health has given the clearest signal yet that the Government is likely to increase the tax on cigarettes to help slash the number of people who smoke.

A new PM defied the odds as the Govt struggled to deal with the worst recession in decades, and Labour played catch up politics.

Another abusive email has Hone Harawira back in the political spotlight.

Upset about changes to a brochure he designed about Maori flags, Hone Harawira let six Te Puni Kokiri officials know of his displeasure in an expletive littered email.

Peter Dunne has given up on his annual list of worst-behaved MPs, saying Speaker Lockwood Smith's reign has ushered in a new era of propriety.

Rodney Hide survived moves to oust him as Act leader last month after the PM privately indicated National's deal with Act would be off.

Flying the Maori flag should be a cause for celebration, not mean-spirited opposition, says outspoken Maori Party MP Hone Harawira.

The head of the Families Commission today told MPs she couldn't define a policy with a Maori name because she was a middle class white woman.

Speaker Lockwood Smith has dethroned Prime Minister as 2009's top parliamentary performer, a newsletter claims.

Two iwi are considering boycotting a statutory Maori advisory board for the Auckland council.

Phil Goff has indicated that Labour is backing away from its stance of allowing customary title of the foreshore and seabed to be awarded to iwi.

Pita Sharples has rejected claims the party leaders were undermined, and defended MP Hone Harawira after letting him off with an apology.

It's up to Hone Harawira to demonstrate he means his apology for "racist and offensive" behaviour, John Key says.

The man who received Hone's Harawira's racially charged email is pleased with the MP's second apology but is not expecting a personal "sorry".