The Government is still negotiating with the Maori Party over legislation setting up an emissions trading scheme and hopes to strike a deal by early next week.

Changes are being made to the Warm Up New Zealand Heat Smart home insulation scheme.

Changes to how polytechnics are governed give the Government far too much power, the Green and Labour parties say.

Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples says his party caucus has coped with disagreements before.

Climate Change Minister Nick Smith today explained the Government's approach on emissions trading to Federated Farmers' power brokers.

Prime Minister John Key sought advice on the foreign policy consequences of meeting the Dalai Lama before deciding not to, Parliament was told today.

The Government plans to re-jig the taxpayer-funded science sector next year, and add "creative" ways to persuade the private sector to boost its spend on research.

Prime Minister John Key has decided not to meet Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, when he visits in December.

The Maori Party is in a strong position to gain concessions from the Government as it goes into negotiations on legislation to set up a new emissions trading scheme (ETS).

New Green Party MP David Clendon told Parliament today New Zealand's 100 Percent Pure international brand could become a problem if the environment wasn't looked after.

Maori forest owners will not get any preferential treatment under an emissions trading scheme (ETS) deal National is negotiating with the Maori Party, Climate Change Minister Nick Smith said today.

Controversial MP Hone Harawira has again stressed his determination to stay with the Maori Party, but admits "serious bridge building" is needed.

The Government needs to listen and apologise to British child migrants who suffered after being repatriated to New Zealand decades ago, the Labour Party says.

National is negotiating with the Maori Party over 10 sticking points in the emissions trading scheme (ETS), Climate Change Minister Nick Smith says.

The Government says it is committed to passing crucial climate change legislation despite a deadlocked select committee report and opposition complaints that taxpayers will carry a $100 billion burden.

The Government is being accused of a $50 billion blunder after Treasury said proposed changes to the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) could cost twice as much as originally estimated.

With wildly differing views on whether an emissions trading scheme (ETS) was the right way for New Zealand to tackle climate change, what form it should take, or whether climate change even exists, it was always going to be a hard ask for political parties to agree.

Fiji's self-appointed Prime Minister said New Zealand's Deputy High Commissioner was expelled from the Pacific nation as a message to "leave us alone".