The Beehive's decision to virtually order TVNZ to gazump Maori TV's Rugby World Cup bid has soured the Maori Party's relationship with National.

Remember the utter shambles as the All Blacks bombed out of the last Rugby World Cup because they could not organise a simple drop-goal?

Pita Sharples says he will apologise to John Key for not discussing in detail Te Puni Kokiri's $3m deal to support Maori TV's Rugby World Cup bid.

Maori TV has accused its rival TV3 of racism after it broadcast an item lampooning what its coverage of the Rugby World Cup would look like.

Maori TV will be expected to show Rugby World Cup matches to all NZ if it wins coverage rights, the Maori Affairs Minister says.

Maori TV's Rugby World Cup commentary would mainly be in English but 5 to 10 per cent will be peppered with Maori phrases.

Thousands will miss out on free live coverage of the Rugby World Cup if Maori TV's taxpayer-funded bid for the right to screen games succeeds.

The Govt has proposed phasing out the Telecommunications Service Obligations (TSO) levy and setting up a new $300m rural broadband initiative.

More than half of the 8000 houses insulated under the Government's scheme belong to low-income earners, Energy Minister Gerry Brownlee says.

Big earners are lining up for the home insulation subsidy, a survey suggests, prompting fears middle income earners will miss out.