Eleven UN ambassadors are being schmoozed in Queenstown in an attempt to win support for a New Zealand seat on the UN Security Council.

An Australian man who died in a US drone strike alongside a New Zealander was introduced to radical Islam at a Christchurch mosque, it's reported.

Former Labour MP Shane Jones is on his first trip as the new Pacific Economic Ambassador, but he nearly didn't make it.

John Key says New Zealand's spy agencies have provided information to international forces in Afghanistan that may have been used for American drone strikes.

A New Zealander killed in a drone strike in Yemen has been named as Daryl Jones by an Australian newspaper.

A Kiwi killed in a drone strike in Yemen had attended a terrorist training camp and may have been a foot soldier for al-Qaeda.

Prime Minister John Key said a New Zealander who was killed by a US drone attack in Yemen in November had attended a terrorist training camp in the area.

The Middle East remains an untapped business opportunity for exporters as their focus is dominated by booming Asian markets such as China.

Three New Zealand citizens held for more than two months in the United Arab Emirates on drugs charges are due to appear in court today.

Three New Zealand citizens held for more than two months in the United Arab Emirates on drugs charges are due to appear in court tomorrow.

Government's "fix-it" woman Paula Rebstock was paid $208,907 to write a report on the leaking of ministerial documents, Government has revealed.

NZ Trade Ministry spokesman says access for agricultural products to customs union is key sticking point.

New Zealand has donated hundreds of emergency shelter kits and a further $300,000 to help residents of cyclone-hit Tonga.

The New Zealand government has helped the families of more than 950 Kiwis who have died overseas and more than 200 who were injured in the last eight years.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade says it's been told there have been no arrests over the death of a Kiwi woman in Libya, contrary to reports.

Four people have reportedly been arrested in connection with the execution-style killings of New Zealander Lynn Howie and Briton Mark De Salis in Libya on Thursday.

The apparent execution-style killing of a NZ woman in Libya has sparked concerns for five others still in the country.

The Ministry of Justice's deputy-secretary has outed himself as one of two former top MFAT managers fingered by an investigation as attempting to disrupt a restructuring.

A report into the leak of documents about restructuring plans at MFAT ordered by State Services Commissioner Iain Rennie has traced the leak back his own department.

Labour leader David Cunliffe intervened in a meeting of affiliated unions at the party conference in Wigram to broker a compromise resolution on the Trans Pacific Partnership.

Labour's trade spokesman and a former Trade Minister Phil Goff says he understands why the Government is not releasing text of the Trans Pacific Partnership agreement but says it could be doing more to communicate with New Zealanders.

New Zealand has halted all apple exports to China for the rest of the season after rot was found in several batches at the Chinese border.

The Government is warning New Zealanders flying in Tonga it will be at their own risk as the national airline has bought a plane which has been involved in numerous crashes.

Kiwis on holiday have sought diplomatic assistance to find somewhere to watch All Blacks tests and request help with dodgy tenants back home.

A Chinese New Zealander who entered China illegally to see his parents claims he was detained, chained and tortured for five days before being deported to Auckland.

The public servant suspected of embarrassing the Government by leaking sensitive documents about staff cuts to the Opposition last year is a 'clerical assistant'.