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".

New Zealand's High Commissioner to the Cook Islands died today, soon after being flown to Auckland on a medical evacuation flight.

A column in a leading British newspaper which accuses New Zealanders of unjustifiably trading off their "clean, green 100 percent pure" imagery doesn't make for nice reading, Green Party co-leader Russel Norman says.

Firebrand MP Hone Harawira says he wants to stay with the Maori Party despite suggestions from its president that it would be best if he became an independent MP.

The announcement that a rapper known for his anti-gay lyrics will perform at next year's Big Day Out has sparked a backlash among gay rights groups.

The Maori Party should have instantly expelled Hone Harawira for his "outrageous racist behaviour" says New Zealand First leader Winston Peters.