Prices and who controls them is already an issue for this year's election, writes Fran O'Sullivan. The "market rules OK?" is not the kind of slogan that opposition parties are chanting.

I was sick to my stomach when I read the graphic details of the awful demise of 82-year-old Maureen Quinn

John Key won't be thanking the IMF for taking a little bit of the shine off his new joint goal for bilateral trade between NZ and China to reach $30 billion by 2020, writes Fran O'Sullivan.

Kim Dotcom bought his NZ residency with a $10m cheque; now he wants to buy off Hone Harawira to try to secure the balance of power at the September election, writes Fran O'Sullivan.

Head-hunting former Fonterra executive Gary Romano as chief executive of Pengxin International is a coup for the rapidly expanding Chinese company.

John Key has firmly put his personal stamp on the New Zealand-China relationship by forging a "trusted partner" status with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Presidential invitation a sign that China sees NZ not just as a trading partner but as a 'member of the family', writes Fran O'Sullivan.

Judith Collins owes her political scalp to the imminent visit of the Prime Minister to Beijing.

Fran O'Sullivan asks: "Will all the chess pieces be in place within the next week in time for China to announce full convertibility of the NZ dollar into the renminbi during the PM's visit?"

David Cunliffe's move to appoint long-time union organiser Matt McCarten as his key political operative is a smart move, writes Fran O'Sullivan.

Who better than Prebble to spot a potential wedge between National and Act and create a groundswell in favour of raising the superannuation age, writes Fran O'Sullivan.

Kim Dotcom and Len Brown are linked by several personal characteristics. Both are showmen. Both are prone to vanity. Both hate being out of the limelight.

The reason the Australian national airline is in such a deep funk comes down to the failure of its own business strategy and tactical manoeuvring, writes Fran O'Sullivan.

Since Key's return, the PM's department has reached out to various New Zealand businesses to ask them for their views, writes Fran O'Sullivan.

The New Zealand expectations were just not realistic for what is still a relatively new Government facing huge fiscal constraints, writes Fran O'Sullivan.

Abbott has asked Key to ensure NZ concentrates its efforts on trade and relationships with the Pacific, writes Fran O'Sullivan. NZ is also roped into the B20 (business initiative).

"Stay proud, Ella. You're a hell of an artist and feminist." That is the kind of support I hope Lorde is getting from her family, friends, manager and Joel Little, writes Fran O'Sullivan.

Len Brown vigorously promotes Auckland but debatable how much his ability to be cheerleader is now compromised.

John Key will probably get in a few more rounds of golf in Maui before he returns to New Zealand to get his election year planning under way in earnest.

Labour's David Cunliffe faces a conundrum - how to convince New Zealand voters it's time to break away from the "old economic orthodoxies" when the data shows the country is poised for a relative boom, writes Fran O'Sullivan.

Auditor-General Lyn Provost is the right person to take inquiries into Len Brown's relationship with the SkyCity hotels and casino operator to the obvious next stage.

If he had any skerrick of honour left, Len Brown would by now have tendered his resignation as mayor to the people of Auckland.

Auditor-General Lyn Provost is keeping a watching brief on Auckland Council chief executive Doug McKay's review of Mayor Len Brown's possible use of council resources.

Trade, trade facilitation, productive investment and movement of labour will be on the agenda and NZ will be able to play a constructive role, writes Fran O'Sullivan.

It is an "extraordinary honour" for New Zealand to be on the formal invitation list for next year's meeting of the powerful G20 in Brisbane, Fran O'Sullivan writes.

Powerful position allows too many personal policy platforms without them being appropriately put to the test.

The Pike River disaster was a "national disaster" that exposed shocking negligence by the Labour Department and the Pike River company. The Govt should pay the $3.41m to the families, says Fran O'Sullivan.

Air New Zealand has frequently been a political football for politicians of all stripes.