Murray McCully

Foreign Minister Murray McCully has confirmed the embassy in Sweden will close next month and other European posts will be told to move to cheaper offices as part of a bid to save $10 million a year.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully will visit Ethiopia this week to attend the African Union Executive Council.

The Government is to change its position on Myanmar and return to calling it Burma.

The Dunedin City Council is hoping a slice of a $9.5 million Rugby World Cup funding carrot could see popular festival events - such as Dunedin's midwinter lantern parade - restaged during next year's tournament.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully has managed to keep his clothes clean, spending nearly $2000 of taxpayer money on laundry services, credit card statements released today under the Official Information Act show.

The Government says it will provide assistance to cyclone-struck Fiji for as long as necessary.