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

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.

A deal for rich countries to slash emissions by 80pc by 2050 "falls well short of expectations and aspirations", says NZ's Prime Minister. But Barack Obama hails the 'Copenhagen accord' as a "meaningful and unprecedented breakthrough".

The US and four other countries, including China, reach a climate agreement to reduce and measure emissions reductions. But Barack Obama says a "fundamental deadlock in perspectives" exists with developing nations.

Woods' Kiwi caddie Steve Williams doesn't deserve to be attacked in any way, or to have his career threatened.

Associate Local Government Minister John Carter is being accused of changing a Government bill to help out a constituent.

Privately run prisons are on the Government's agenda after Parliament today passed a bill allowing them to be handed over.

If the Maori Party and the Government had any hopes of keeping the hornet's nest the Hone Harawira dispute had stirred up with him in Te Tai Tokerau, they were quickly disabused of the notion yesterday.

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