Parliament

Parliament workers were sent into the street early today after fire alarms forced an evacuation just after 8am.

More than 200 people turned out this morning to witness the official closing of Parliament.

Parliament has passed legislation under urgency to pay health and disability sector workers the minimum wage for sleepovers.

The Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union and the Parliamentary Press Gallery have called on the Speaker to reconsider his ban of the New Zealand Herald's parliamentary journalists from Parliament, describing it as heavy-handed and concerning.

A man who tried to jump from Parliament's public gallery into the debating chamber this afternoon was pulled back before he could get over the edge of the balcony.

A threat by internet activist group Anonymous to shut down Parliament's website today is being taken seriously, says Parliamentary Services.

A vigil will be held at Parliament tomorrow to mark one week since the Christchurch earthquake struck.

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard will make her first visit to New Zealand next week and become the first foreign leader to address New Zealand's Parliament.

Ministers will be given more power to address economic impact issues when assessing overseas investment applications for sensitive land, Minister of Finance, Bill English says.

Labour Minister Kate Wilkinson is preparing a cabinet paper to present her recommendations on the adventure tourism review to Parliament.