In theory, English is Acting Prime Minister in these circumstances. But in reality, Key is still the PM when it comes to dealing with the daily demands of journalists, Fran O'Sullivan writes.

Will giving tax inspectors more resources to clamp down on profit-takers have any effect at all on the rampant Auckland housing boom?

Two high-flying Alexes have been in the legal headlines in the past week: Huka Lodge owner Alex van Heeren and former Heart of the City boss Alex Swney.

The Prime Minister may have been out of New Zealand - or possibly flat out with the demands of 24/7 forex trading - when New Zealand television news and current affairs was in its heyday.

John Campbell has not been afraid to challenge the PM directly where some of his rivals have adopted a more supine stance, writes Fran O'Sullivan.

Fran O'Sullivan on governor Lu Hao - widely tipped to be a major player in Beijing's "next generation" leadership - who was in NZ yesterday.

A major disruptive play will be launched in the Chinese baby formula market in Beijing today which could ultimately have a big impact - some say seismic - on the price paid for imported product by....

When the Black Caps played Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground last night it was a perfect example of the aggressive transtasman competitiveness which can spur on extraordinary sporting triumphs for either New Zealand or Australia.

The dirty secret in global diplomacy is that much can and is accomplished through such simple but secret transactions, Fran O'Sullivan writes.

John Key went into full sledge mode when he roasted Tony Abbott at a gala dinner to mark the joint hosting of the Cricket World Cup.

John Key has had a serious slap, writes Fran O'Sullivan. He underestimated the public's tolerance to be politically played by him. So where does it go from now?

Bill English really is the bad cop in the Govt's brinksmanship with SkyCity over just whose pockets will be picked to pay for the $70m to $130m cost overrun for the convention centre.

Financial Markets Authority boss Rob Everett should simply tell the market exactly what its probe into alleged market manipulation at one of the country's highest profile funds manager entails.

Tony Abbott is well on his way to being a political feather duster after his speech to the Canberra Press Club bombed, writes Fran O'Sullivan.

Westpac NZ's high-powered directors flexed their muscles - ever so diplomatically - to ensure the appointment of Kiwi David McLean as the bank's new chief executive.

If New Zealand Cabinet ministers really, really want to notch up the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) they could change tack.

What took hold of Nick Smith when he claimed the Resource Management Act added $30 billion to housing costs and stopped 40,000 new houses in the past decade?

For the first time in many years a New Zealand prime minister will join global powerbrokers in chilly Davos for the annual World Economic Forum (WEF).

The Prime Minister will be busy cultivating his Rolodex for life after politics - and it's likely he'll be taking lessons from Helen Clark.

There's an old maxim in poker - "If you don't know who's getting screwed, get up and walk away from the table because it is you."

Rock star to rock bottom? That's not where the New Zealand economy is heading, writes Fran O'Sullivan.

There is one salient comment in the report by Queens Counsel Miriam Dean into the WPC80 incident that ought to give Fonterra's directors and shareholders cause for concern: "A company that is....

Labour Leader Andrew Little has staked out valuable new territory with his announcement of a Future Work Commission.

Xi Jinping has gone out of his way to forge a strong personal relationship with John Key on his visit.

Soon many NZers won't be able to afford to buy or rent houses in the cities where their jobs are, without leading a "penny-pinching" existence, writes Fran O'Sullivan.

Heightened tensions between the world's two superpowers will test the diplomatic skills of Trade Minister Tim Groser who arrives in Beijing before John Key for the formal Apec leaders meeting.

The Prime Minister has finally acknowledged the political reality that there are limits to growth as his Government takes a tentative step towards ensuring dairy effluent doesn't continue to despoil our major waterways.