Budget move divides Labour and Greens
COMMENT: The Greens have alternatives, even if they don't like them, writes Audrey Young.
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Latest from Audrey Young on politics
Joyce Budget likely to keep a tight rein
COMMENT: The bad times served English well. Good times are harder.
Andrew Little's next big test begins
COMMENT: Every small blip makes it that much harder to make up ground, says Audrey Young.
Brownlee makes impact but not all good
COMMENT: New Foreign Minister made a rookie error in his first week, writes Audrey Young.
Little's captain's call deserved respect
COMMENT: There was an obvious answer to Labour having no Maori in its first 15 places.
National's young guns a vital part of mix
COMMENT:Amy Adams is a nightmare for Opposition parties because she rarely makes mistakes.
New role could be quite a ride for Brownlee
Brownlee steps up to new role with biggest uncertainties among NZ's closest allies.
Young: Cabinet quartet behind pay equity decision
The next step should be backing a bill requiring pay audits by gender.
Young: English is right to be cautious on Syria
COMMENT: Just what President Trump means by his plea to "join us" is unknown.
No Mr English, the process can't be trusted
English bizarrely describes the chief of Defence Force as "independent" in the process.
NZDF needs greater civilian scrutiny
COMMENT: There are more reasons than not to hold inquiry into SAS raid, says Audrey Young.
John Key's last hurrah a time for National reflection
COMMENT: Bill English lacks his predecessor's energy and easy charm, says Audrey Young.
A week that may make the difference
COMMENT: The events of the past week may be a turning point in election year, writes Audrey Young.
Wilderness beckons for David Seymour
COMMENT: David Seymour's greatest success is that he is not reviled, writes Audrey Young.
Audrey Young: Mana Maori deal goes further than most
COMMENT: Unlike other electoral accommodations, the Mana Maori deal is devoid of subtlety.
Pike River a test of English's leadership
COMMENT: Dame Fiona Kidman's submission to the select committee on Pike River was study in empathy, writes Audrey Young.
Labour divided over party's greater good
COMMENT: Andrew Little started the year well but the Willie Jackson debacle has damaged his leadership and the party, writes Audrey Young.
Young: Iwi leaders caught in election battle
COMMENT: What has become clear is that the influence of iwi leaders, especially post- treaty settlement iwi, are becoming a new battleground this election.
The day to forget the day before
COMMENT: Waitangi is special, it hardly needs saying. Sadly February 6 is becoming the day to forget February 5 and the madness of Te Tii Marae.
Young: Jones-Peters will be double trouble
COMMENT: Shane Jones' is set to join New Zealand First but not everyone in the party is holding up the welcome sign.
Audrey Young: English and Bennett a complete package
The English and Bennett team is bigger than the sum of its parts, writes Audrey Young, after the Prime Minister's State of the Nation address.
'English needs to sharpen up as new leader'
COMMENT: The new PM spent nearly five hours at the horse sales in what should be a busy election year, writes Audrey Young.
Audrey Young: Ardern Little's best shot
The pressure is on Little to improve his own performance and the party's image to lift its support, writes Audrey Young.
Audrey Young: English's trip courtesy of Key
COMMENT: Bill English was bequeathed his political honeymoon in Europe by John Key.
And the Politician of the Year is...
COMMENT: Audrey Young sums up the political performances of our MPs this year, and picks a winner.
Audrey Young: Labour should think twice
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.
Plethora of options for new top team
COMMENT: The contest to become Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister is starting to look like an elaborate wiring diagram.
Bloody nose & black eye for National
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.
Young: Issues of nationalism and elitism on rise
COMMENT: Opposition parties are hoping that their own version of the Brexit-Trump contagion will take grip in New Zealand.
Earthquake intervenes in historic return
The US Admiral who ordered the USS Sampson to divert to the earthquake disaster zone has a long history with New Zealand.
NZ-US relations from warm to a rolling boil
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.
Audrey Young: Key set to commiserate with Obama
COMMENT: A Clinton presidency would have offered a seamless transition in the United States' policy towards New Zealand.
Two months to get a grip on Trump
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.
Audrey Young: now is time for experience
COMMENT: Key and McCully forged their successful political partnership around dealings the United States and it is about to be harnessed again.