At a workshop on a summer day in Riyadh, prospective candidates in local elections are limbering up. One wants to help kids, one to improve living conditions in the Saudi capital, another to become a political role model.
Taxpayer money will be spent on an abattoir that could be gifted to Saudi Arabia - part of a deal done partly to secure a free-trade deal with Gulf states.
The Labour Party has asked the Auditor-General and Treasury to investigate Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully over a deal made with a Saudi businessman.
Whatever his shortcomings in executing the war, Saddam felt he had saved the Gulf sheikdoms and was worthy of greater respect, writes Tom Clifford.
Unconvincing explanations for settling live sheep export grievance should not hurt New Zealand's clean reputation, writes John Roughan.
A controversial deal that saw $11.5 million in taxpayer money spent on a businessman's private farm in Saudi Arabia was opposed by the Treasury, documents show.
Documents reveal a briefing from NZ Trade and Enterprise warned ministers about sending breeding sheep to Saudi in the latter half of 2014.
The only way of proving or disproving the Prime Minister's claim that the papers would embarrass Labour is, obviously, the release of unredacted versions.
The best Kiwi farmers would have struggled with the conditions that led to a very high death rate among lambs from pregnant ewes sent to a farm in Saudi Arabia, a company involved in the operation says.
The high death-rate of lambs at a farm in Saudi Arabia that will act as a model for Kiwi agribusiness could have been caused by a sand storm, Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy says.
Herald political editor Audrey Young sets out the case for the Foreign Minister losing his job over the $11m Saudi sheep deal.
It’s difficult to see how Key can axe his foreign minister without also turning focus back on his entire Cabinet, writes Fran O'Sullivan.
Try as they might, Labour and NZ First failed to turn the Great Saudi Sheep Saga into the Great Saudi Sheep Scandal, writes John Roughan.
Phill Goff says there is nothing in the papers to embarrass Labour nor is there any reference to a "commercial solution" as Mr Key suggested.
Murray McCully's controversial $10m deal bypassed the normal Govt control channels, writes Fran O'Sullivan. "The deal is now being challenged as an outright bribe."
Phil Goff and Jim Anderton challenge John Key to release any documents he has suggesting the Labour-Progressive Government considered settling a grievance with a Saudi investor.
If NZ taxpayers have provided a businessman with a sheep farm in compensation for his loss, it raises many more questions than Minister Murray McCully has been inclined to answer.
Murray McCully's secret Saudi deal is attracting far too much adverse comment on the international stage to be easily swept under the carpet, writes Fran O'Sullivan.
Claims of corruption, bribery and lies are being made about the Government’s unorthodox scheme of flying sheep to Saudi Arabia, writes Bryce Edwards.
A threat of legal action being used to partly justify nearly $12 million spent on a Saudi businessman's farm was clearly hollow, Labour says.
A controversy over the spending of millions of dollars on a overseas businessman’s farm in Saudi Arabia has boiled over in Parliament with accusations of bribery.
New Zealand spent more than $11.5 million to help establish a demonstration farm in Saudi Arabia - but does not have any contractual rights to access it.
Saudi Arabia has executed 85 people so far in 2015, already almost hitting the total number for 2014.
Spending millions of dollars on a Saudi businessman's farm was not "compensation" paid to clear the way for a free trade deal, officials say.
Prime Minister John Key has met dignitaries and enjoyed a Burger Fuel meal in Kuwait, on the final stop of his Gulf States tour.
Prime Minister John Key has met with the Saudi Arabian king and raised the issue of human rights.
Agency and United States military personnel have been pulled out of Yemen amid escalating sectarian violence in recent weeks.
Oil rose after Iran's nuclear accord with world powers left the timing of increased crude supplies from the Opec member uncertain and as Saudi Arabia raised prices for shipments to Asia.
Saudi Arabia yesterday blamed a "technical fault" for forcing two of its pilots in an F-15 to eject over waters south of Yemen.