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.

There won't be any changes to legislation around the controversial partnership schools despite opposition parties continuing their objections to elements of the bill.

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.

Maori political movements arise upon a huge up-welling of support around charismatic leaders in pursuit of a just cause, writes Rawiri Taonui.

Labour leader David Shearer has said he will gun for the Maori Party electorate seats next year, exploiting the uncertainty in the party - but co-leader Tariana Turia has retaliated.

Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia has downplayed suggestions her party is in chaos over its leadership, saying planning a changeover at the top was a healthy necessity for any party.

Prime Minister John Key was left in little doubt that there was at least one place he wasn't the preferred Prime Minister: at Ratana Pa.

Editorial: Nothing is more damaging to a political party than inner turmoil. Voters detest it and invariably deliver their verdict at the first possible opportunity.

The Maori Party National Council says there will be no immediate change in the party's leadership following a showdown at the Whangaehu marae.

John Key says he is confident that a potential change of leadership for the Maori Party will not derail National's confidence and supply agreement with the party.

Having done his utmost to get the Maori Party into the intensive care unit, Harawira has put on his quack's white coat and offered to give it the kiss of life, writes Claire Trevett.

Same with the constitutional review, those sorts of things that are big ideas stuff are just starting to take hold.

Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia has called on her fellow co-leader, Pita Sharples, to step down and hand over the reins to MP Te Ururoa Flavell.