New Zealands hospitals are not for sale, Crown Health Enterprises Minister Bill English said today.

New Zealand and the European Union have initialled the main text of a Mutual Recognition Agreement on Conformity Assessment - the first of its kind in the world.

The Government has decided to develop energy efficiency legislation providing for the introduction of minimum energy performance standards for some categories of appliances and equipment.

The signing of the Trans Tasman Mutual Recognition Arrangement by the Prime Minister, Rt Hon Jim Bolger, today was welcomed by the Minister of Commerce, Hon John Luxton.