COMMENT: Shane Jones' is set to join New Zealand First but not everyone in the party is holding up the welcome sign.

Among the new targets set by Bill English, police will be attending 98 per cent of burglaries within 48 hours, up from current rates of 86 per cent.

English says NZ First an 'unlikely' choice of governing partner, saying Nats prefer to stick to their present allies.

The Greens and some Labour MPs are calling for a national goal of making Māori language compulsory for all children in state schools.

COMMENT: Gareth Morgan plays with a straight bat, but he needs to adjust his aim, writes Alan Duff.

Labour's visit to Ratana Pa today was a relatively quiet one - the fireworks instead came from Gareth Morgan.

Morgan compared Peters to Don Brash, saying they were "black-and-white facsimiles of each other"; Peters described Morgan as "a thinned-out version of Kim Dotcom".

Labour leader Andrew Little has all but ruled out forming a post-election coalition with the Maori Party or Mana Movement.

Bill English's arrival this afternoon was uneventful compared to his first Ratana visit in 2002 - also the first by a National Party leader.

Regardless of bottom lines, Winston Peters will go with the winner if his choice matters. Let us hope it does not.

Resignations by MPs has been pronounced since MMP began in 1996, of both of list and constituency MPs.

Prime Minister Bill English will not rule out trading away the Foreign Affairs portfolio in post-election coalition talks.

The very health and safety changes which the Pike River disaster prompted make re-entering the mine difficult, Prime Minister Bill English says.

A week has never seemed such a long time in politics.

Reputation studiously rebuilt after a political mauling 14 years ago, the new PM now has chance to right the record, writes Claire Trevett.

Labour appear quietly thrilled about the prospect of a National Party without John Key.

Social media has erupted following the news Prime Minister John Key will be stepping down next week.

Michael Wood's victory in Mt Roskill is a "bloody nose" for the Government, says Labour leader Andrew Little.

The latest poll canvassed views not just views on political parties but on what impact a Donald Trump presidency would have on New Zealand.

The Government may be disappointed by Donald Trump's TPP policy but it is pushing NZ interests in other markets, including Iran.

COMMENT: Does the success of outsider Republican nominee Donald Trump signal the time for a political revolution in Godzone too?

New laws against looters are not necessary, says police minister.

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters is calling for tough new laws around looting after three houses were burgled in the aftermath of this morning's quake.

NZ First leader Winston Peters was too busy trying to coat-tail on Trump's success to congratulate Trump when Parliament addressed the President-elect's ascendancy.

NZ First says Labour's jobs promise is the same NZ First's which was scrapped by Labour in 2001.

The Government will buy up to three more motels and construct modular housing as part of a new $300 million investment in emergency housing.

Brett Morrison moved after two lots of intruders went through his Papamoa rental Two burglaries in the space of two weeks was enough

As Labour holds its conference in Auckland, Winston Peters has pledged to give "equality with Auckland back to the provinces".

Limb service denies over-charging, rectifies administrative issues

A massive privacy breach has struck the beleaguered Novopay school payroll with personal details of staff members sent to wrong schools.