A selection of photos showcasing Banks' illustrious career in Parliament

The Act Party wants National supporters to save it from oblivion at next year's election, telling them it needs not just one, but two Parliamentary seats.

The man bringing a private prosecution against Act leader John Banks has tried to get a QC barred from court.

Budget Day is often the time for the Government support partners to cash in on the promises National made to them in return for their support.

There won't be any changes to legislation around the controversial partnership schools despite opposition parties continuing their objections to elements of the bill.

John Banks says he will defend a charge of knowingly receiving donations to his Super City mayorship campaign that were recorded as anonymous.

New Zealand's role in allowing tax havens to operate could be a significant area of concern, writes Bryce Edwards.

If you're looking for clear positions on the future of the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter, it's no use looking to the politicians, writes Bryce Edwards.

How can a second-term government - often distracted by its own blunders - continue to poll around the record levels it was elected on, asks Bryce Edwards.

The reaction to the appointment of Susan Devoy as the new Race Relations Commissioner demonstrates NZ's sensitivity on Maori issues, writes Bryce Edwards.

Act Leader John Banks yesterday jumped at the chance of payback against David Shearer, demanding the Labour leader stand down over his "secret" United States bank account.

Being a political figure involves being subjected to various degrees of public scrutiny, and nobody knows this better than Shane Jones right now, writes Bryce Edwards.

The State Owned Enterprises are clearly still the battlefield at the moment for parliamentary politics. writes Bryce Edwards.

When it comes to taxpayer handouts, this Government is up there with best, but that kind of generosity will always be facing scrutiny, writes Bryce Edwards.

Much ink is being spilt and airtime apparently wasted on the annual conference of a political party that is currently polling at 0.1%, writes Bryce Armstrong.

The theme of Act's weekend conference was "rejuvenation", writes John Armstrong. There was precious little evidence of that to be seen where it really mattered.

Epsom voters are likely to be targeted by a combined scare campaign and charm offensive from Act as the party ratchets up its efforts to hold the seat.

Multi-millionaire Alan Gibbs says New Zealanders are "buggering up" their country by having unrealistic expectations of what governments can achieve, especially when it comes to spending money on so-called welfare entitlements.

Act is promising to reverse the "anti-development" and "anti-subdivision" elements of the Resource Management Act as it becomes the latest party to tackle housing affordability.

The Act Party is holding a "rejuvenation" conference today at the Kaukapakapa sculpture farm of wealthy benefactor and founding father Alan Gibbs.