Senior ministers raised concerns about the commitments the government made to survivors of abuse in care and the need to lower expectations, according to notes obtained by RNZ.

Russian and Syrian jets struck the rebel-held city of Idlib in northern Syria on Sunday, as President Bashar al-Assad vowed to crush insurgents who had swept into the city of Aleppo.

The oil and gas lobby has asked the government to underwrite the risk of fossil fuel exploration, with the taxpayer potentially taking "some or all" of the risk if new gas supplies fail to eventuate.

The Entire Alphabet band members Paul McLennan-Kissel (on drums) and Chris Miller (guitar) entertain passers-by in George St on Saturday afternoon.