COMMENT: Audrey Young sums up the political performances of our MPs this year, and picks a winner.

COMMENT: The Labour Party was quietly thrilled after getting over the shock of John Key's resignation as PM and his endorsement of Bill English.

COMMENT: The contest to become Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister is starting to look like an elaborate wiring diagram.

Even a close win in Mt Roskill could have been bad new for Andrew Little but the victory will transform the spirits of the party.

COMMENT: Opposition parties are hoping that their own version of the Brexit-Trump contagion will take grip in New Zealand.

The US Admiral who ordered the USS Sampson to divert to the earthquake disaster zone has a long history with New Zealand.

Gone are the days when New Zealand spent a lot of time working out how to get the attention of the United States, at least under President Obama.

COMMENT: A Clinton presidency would have offered a seamless transition in the United States' policy towards New Zealand.

Perhaps the best feature of the American electoral system is that it gives us two and a half months to recover our composure before the new president takes office.

COMMENT: John Key this week recalled the shock he felt when Simon Power privately told him he would be retiring from politics.

COMMENT: Political Editor Audrey Young gives her report card on the Education Minister, who has announced she will step down at the next election.

COMMENT: NZ First leader has been vocal about parents' strain on pension.

Nikki Kaye has earned a reputation as an individual who is driven in almost everything she does.

COMMENT: As Key has pointed out publicly, Clark's abilities are widely acknowledged; her trouble is that she doesn't have a champion among the P5.

COMMENT: With every passing week, it becomes more likely that New Zealand First will decide the next Government.

COMMENT: Helen Clark has plenty of things consider as she contemplates the next step in the contest to lead the United Nations.

COMMENT: There are many ways by which Justice Minister Amy Adams can measure success in her job.

COMMENT: In afterglow of Joe Biden's charm offensive, it is easy to forget how bad things got at the breakup of the Anzus security alliance 30 years ago.

COMMENT: If Brexit the Musical is ever staged, casting of characters won't be hard given the performances so far of leading players, writes Audrey Young.

COMMENT: John Key came prepared to his post-Cabinet press conference yesterday on foreign trusts.

COMMENT: Murray McCully believes Helen Clark had the best start possible in the first phase of her bid to become the next Secretary General of the United Nations, writes Audrey Young.

COMMENT: New Zealand has no shortage of tea-stained reports about the failures of Child Youth and Family and its hard-working, well-meaning staff.

COMMENT: Few who know Clark would doubt her ability to do the job, and the fact that Clark will be in contention is an incredible achievement, writes Audrey Young.

If you like it, vote for it. If you like the present flag better, vote for it. Don't let anything else get in the way, writes Audrey Young.

All New Zealanders are equal, but some New Zealanders are more equal than others, especially when they are living in Australia, writes Audrey Young.

There is little downside for Key in supporting Clark. She is still a highly respected and popular figure in New Zealand, writes Audrey Young.

The good news for the Government is that Hone Harawira and his friends just made its sales job a lot easier, writes Audrey Young.

Our political editor Audrey Young gives her take on what will make headlines in 2016.

The international fight against Isis has provided bookends to John Key's political year.

Three wise men and four idiots featured in Parliament's last question time of the year.