John Key

Prime Minister John Key says the Government makes no apology for what promises to be a new drive for efficiencies in the public service.

Prime Minister John Key has blamed a slip in his popularity on a "bruising'' election campaign with lots of attack advertisements.

So it's goodbye Mr Smile and Wave, and hello Mr Grumpy. Or so the Prime Minister's critics would have you believe.

Nobody owns water and that is not up for negotiation - Prime Minister John Key and Deputy Prime Minister Bill English made their position clear yesterday as they battled more potential strife on the proposed part-sale of state-owned energy companies.

Prime Minister John Key has told iwi the Government could yet agree to a Treaty of Waitangi clause in legislation on the partial sale of state assets.

Prime Minister John Key said it would be disappointing if the traditional politicians' visits to Te Tii marae before Waitangi Day were halted.

The Prime Minister has defended some of the Government's most controversial actions at his annual Waitangi Day breakfast - including mining, asset sales and the Crafar Farms sale to a Chinese company.

Prime Minister John Key says the tradition of politicians going to Te Tii Marae should continue, despite calls for the annual visit to be scrapped after he was shouted off the marae by protestors yesterday.

Prime Minister John Key and fellow politicians were verbally abused by protesters during ugly scenes at Waitangi this morning.

The Government is reviewing the cost of the chauffeur-driven BMW service for ministers as part of its savings drive, briefings to incoming ministers revealed this week.