Matt McCarten says John Key must feel like he's in a B-grade horror movie where his prom dates keep coming to gruesome demises.

Don't write the Maori Party off completely. Not yet, anyway.

Any suggestion of a full merger between the Maori Party and Mana remains as likely as Act merging with the Greens, writes Claire Trevett.

In all areas of life, to test whether an action is effective, we need to have an idea of what would have happened in the absence of that action.

Renewal, regeneration, rebirth. No matter what you call it, no political party can escape it.

The likely next co-leader of the Maori Party Te Ururoa Flavell has indicated the National Party may not be the Maori Party's first choice in a kingmaker position under his leadership.

Prime Minister John Key says Pita Sharples' decision to quit as Maori Party co-leader was the right decision, while Labour says the party's time 'has passed'.

Pita Sharples will today announce his resignation as Maori Party co-leader and will quit politics next year.

I am now thinking on the next step in this issue, writes Te Ururoa Flavell. "In particular taking aim at the racing industry, and their exemption from the current package of reforms."

It appears inevitable Labour's candidate, Meka Whaitiri, will win the seat, writes Claire Trevett. The bigger question is how the Mana and Maori parties will go against each other.

A miracle took place in Parliament this week when National turned wine into water.

Na Raihania joked that he could help John Key with his literacy if he wins the Ikaroa-Rawhiti byelection.

Over the next 18 months, expect to see Key, and David Shearer, too, hovering outside Peters' office, bottle of Scotch in hand, writes Toby Manhire.

Budget Day is often the time for the Government support partners to cash in on the promises National made to them in return for their support.

Income-related rental subsidies look set to be extended in tomorrow's Budget to tenants in community-owned housing.

The Greens have joined the Maori Party in calling for a review of the jailing of Teina Pora, who has served 20 years for the rape and murder of Susan Burdett.

The Maori Party and the Green Party are asking the Government why prosecution rates of young Maori appeared to be far higher than Pakeha for the same crimes.

Fans of the rather spectacular David Attenborough Africa series will have observed similarities between the great giraffe turf war in that programme and the battle underway in the Maori Party.

Maori Affairs Minister and Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples may be in the dog box with his party over internal wars over the leadership.

Maori Party MP Te Ururoa Flavell has rejected co-leader Pita Sharples' claims he is trying to blackmail the party by threatening to leave if he does not get the leadership.

Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples says MP Te Ururoa Flavell's statements that he will leave politics if he does not become leader before 2014 amount to "a kind of blackmail".

Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples has come out of his corner fighting in the leadership contest with MP Te Ururoa Flavell.

My jovial slip of the tongue about remaining the co-leader "until I die" was not what I intended, writes Dr Pita Sharples.

Te Ururoa Flavell has suggested it is time for Dr Pita Sharples to stand aside for fresh blood to take over leadership of the Maori Party.

Dame Sian Elias and fellow judges of the Supreme Court made a remarkable declaration of confidence in you and me and our adherence to a constitution this week.

John Key and David Shearer have both voiced support for a four-year parliamentary term - but the change will require public buy-in to happen.