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.

COMMENT: Yes, she has a Machiavellian style, but that hardly disqualifies her for high political office, writes Audrey Young.

Former Prime Minister Jim Bolger says it is time to change the New Zealand flag and he hopes New Zealand has "the maturity" to do it and to look forward and not back.

John Key's programme in Hanoi yesterday reflects the complexity of the country. In the morning it was a visit to the Vin empire of Vietnam's first and only billionaire, Pham Nhat Vuong, and in the afternoon he was off to meet the communists.

Labour has been pivotal in shifting public opinion, shifting its own position last year from a pro starting point to a neutral one.

After the completion of exhaustive TPP talks in Atlanta, Trade Minister Tim Groser sounded anything but elated as he talked down the phone at 3 am.

On Tuesday the Greens showed they're working closely with Labour and on Wednesday that they will act independently of Labour if need be.

Malcolm Turnbull starts new job as Australian Prime Minister praising John Key, saying New Zealand had a leader whose style should be emulated, writes Audrey Young.

Next week is an anniversary Labour leader Andrew Little and his predecessors will remember but won't be celebrating.

Children's Commissioner Russell Wills has done the Government a huge favour with his State of Care report this week, whether he intended to or not.

Cynical safety move means minister must quit if 'safe farm' death rate doesn't fall, writes Audrey Young.

Embattled Corrections Minister Sam Lotu-Iiga has scored lowest in the latest Herald report card on the Cabinet's performance - four out of 10.

With the Opposition's relentless description of the Govt's housing policy as "a fiasco", there was a chance they would be right one day, writes Audrey Young.

Nobody would be shocked if Key called time if his popularity waned, given that his popularity sustains his political drive, writes Audrey Young.

"Today I’m embarrassed that John Key is Prime Minister", writes Audrey Young: "I have not felt that in the past six-and-a-bit years he had led the country."

The PM's Office has finally agreed to release transcripts from his post cabinet press conferences, and Audrey Young says it's a small, but important, victory.

Andrew Little made something of "a captain's call" on Waitangi Day when suggesting notions of greater Maori sovereignty should not be dismissed.

How did John Key get away with honouring Prince Philip, but Tony Abbott hasn't? Political editor Audrey Young outlines her theories.

The possibility of former Prime Minister Helen Clark leading the United Nations is a common subject of speculation.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully wants New Zealand to be "sure-footed" from the outset when it officially begins its term on the UN Security Council tomorrow night.

Matt McCarten, the former enemy, is now seen as a calm and pragmatic influence in Labour who could play a crucial role in its resurrection, writes Audrey Young.

Little must be seen as a potential leader for all, not just narrow left-wing interests, writes Audrey Young, so the guest list was as important as the message.

Prime Minister John Key signed two insurance agreements yesterday in the form of confidence and supply deals with Act and United Future.

If anybody else in Labour is thinking about putting his or her hat into the leadership contest, they should think again, writes Audrey Young.