Nick Smith

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - New Zealand's revised emissions trading plan is set to become law after parliament on Wednesday approved details of the scheme.

New Zealand's parliament Wednesday approved a scheme aimed at curbing greenhouse gas emissions, but critics immediately said it did not go far enough in the fight against global warming.

Artist makes sculpture of New Zealand lawmaker from cow manure to protest pollution policy. A sculpture of a New Zealand government minister crafted from cow manure sold for New Zealand dollars 3,080 ($2,220) on an auction Web site. The bust of New Zealand Environment Minister Nick Smith, sculpted as a protest by artist Sam Mahon, attracted 112 bids before being picked up by an anonymous buyer on Friday.

A New Zealand artist has sculpted the head of the government's environment minister out of cow dung in a conservation protest.

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - New Zealand should retain emissions trading as its primary tool to fight climate change, a parliamentary review panel said on Monday, but gave few specifics on how the existing trading scheme might be changed.

The New Zealand government Tuesday denied it had failed to accept its country's share of the burden for tackling climate change after announcing greenhouse gas emission targets.

Korea, New Zealand pledge emissions cuts as climate talks reconvene; activists rap low goals. Wealthy countries are not going far enough to control greenhouse gas emissions, activists said Monday as delegates from 180 nations resumed talks on a global climate change pact.

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - New Zealand set itself a goal on Monday to cut carbon emissions by between 10 and 20 percent by 2020, holding off setting a hard target until a broader global climate pact now under negotiation takes shape.

New Zealand pledges to cut greenhouse gas emissions by up to 20 percent by 2020. New Zealand announced on Monday that it will cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 10 to 20 percent below 1990 levels by 2020, the country's climate change minister said.

Texas scores on bases-loaded walk in 9th to beat Southern Miss 7-6 at College World Series. Southern Mississippi reliever Jonathan Johnston walked Brandon Loy on four pitches with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth to give Texas a 7-6 win in the College World Series on Sunday night.

The Roman Catholic Church in New Zealand instructed priests Friday not to place communion wafers in worshippers' mouths because of swine flu risks, and indigenous Maori were urged to stop using an ancient greeting that brings people nose-to-nose.

A New Zealand government minister went into self-imposed isolation Friday after coming down with flu symptoms, as Australian health officials recommended people stockpile food in case a swine flu pandemic forces them to stay at home.