Political diary

SUNDAY

Labour's Maori MP Shane Jones may be taking it to the Maori Party, but not all love is lost between the MPs of both parties. Labour MP Nanaia Mahuta took her new baby Waiwaia to the Ratana celebrations, where he was baptised. After the powhiri, Tariana Turia - a former caucus colleague and friend of Ms Mahuta - went to admire the baby. Nanaia handed Waiwaia to her, calling her "Nanny number one".

TUESDAY

Labour's first caucus of the year and Phil Goff finally puts the ghost of "barbecue at Phil's house" to rest by actually hosting one and even being photographed brandishing the tongs.

The barbecue that made the phrase "barbie at Phil's" a byword for leadership tattle within Labour was in 1999. News Goff had hosted 14 colleagues from the right faction of the party sparked rumours it was to bolster a push against Helen Clark's leadership. The rumours were rapidly denied, but persisted. Eleven years on, Annette King lifts the veil of secrecy to reveal not much at all went on: "We ate, drank wine, told stories and laughed. I don't remember any important political discussions at all. Basically it was just people who were friends." She also points out Chris Carter - a long-standing Clark loyalist - was there.

"But these days when we have barbies at Phil's we invite everybody. Next year we might even invite the media."

WEDNESDAY

Of course, it is no longer barbecues at his own house that Goff need worry about. That brings to mind the responses of Labour's David Cunliffe and Shane Jones on ruling out a leadership challenge. Cunliffe's immediate response was to "absolutely" rule it out, even if his caucus came begging. Shane Jones prevaricated a tad before remembering to say he had no such ambitions.

For their guidance, the Herald sought out a few responses from past veterans of dodging the same question:

The "but we're best of friends" defence:

Phil Goff about Helen Clark in 1999: "I've got the best working relationship I've ever had with Helen. My God, we are even going out together on Saturday night to see the cricket."

The "broke my crystal ball" defence:

John Key on rolling Don Brash: "No one can foretell a long way into the future but it's not something that I think is likely to arise as a serious possibility."

The "who, me?" defence:

Bill English a fortnight before Jenny Shipley resigned and he took over in 2001: "That's hypothetical ... I'm not aware of any exercise in counting heads or such activity. I'm certainly not part of it."

THURSDAY NIGHT

By the full moon we are bogans. National's resident bogan Paula Bennett is spied walking into the AC/DC concert in Wellington, in all black attire with metal rivets in her singlet.

Ms Bennett - the Minister of Social Development - reported being asked by two men for advances on their unemployment benefits to buy more beer. She declined, but did headbang with them for a song - presumably "Down Payment Blues".

Fellow National MPs David Bennett and Chris Tremain also released the inner headbanger, as did Labour MPs Grant Robertson and Darren Hughes.

FRIDAY

Labour's Trevor Mallard and Green co-leader Metiria Turei have a public falling out on Facebook after Mr Mallard "de-friends" Ms Turei for criticising Labour's record on the minimum wage.

Mallard says he sees his Facebook page as like his home and takes exception to other politicians using it to attack him. After an exchange in which Ms Turei says she thinks he's being silly, and Mallard claims fellow co-leader Russel Norman is "cuddling Tories", the pair run out of steam. Mallard decides to re-befriend Ms Turei, but says he will "watch her manners".