Winston Peters says Labour has previously accused him of xenophobia and racism on the issue, but now "they've finally cottoned on to what is going on."

Growing a profile as a new MP is tougher than usual when your party is headed by a charismatic veteran in the midst of a great political triumph.

'He picked me up above his head and tried to throw me across the front entranceway.'

Winston Peters puts an to the speculation that has been swirling around Parliament all week and confirms new deputy.

New Zealand First members have refused to comment on whether deputy leader Tracey Martin faced a challenge for her position.

It is too early in Andrew Little's career as a party leader to be ruling out realistic answers to problems he would face if he leads Labour to power.

Prime Minister John Key says axing the $1000 kickstart grant to new KiwiSaver members in the Budget "will not make a blind bit of difference to the number of people who join".

NZ First MP Ron Mark has labelled the Iraqi Army "cowards" and questioned why New Zealand forces were being put at risk trying to train an army that did not want to fight.

Keeping silent about axing the $1000 kickstart payment for new KiwiSaver members, isn't a broken promise, strictly speaking, writes Audrey Young.

Rodney Hide writes: Little is polling below Labour's previous leaders, Cunliffe and Shearer. Peters is breathing down his neck. Key remains on 51% as preferred PM.

New Zealand First leader and the new MP for Northland Winston Peters has doubled his popularity.

Taking on the presidency of a hairdressers' association was done with an eye on entering politics, New Zealand First's new MP says.

New Zealand First has confirmed its new MP will be parliamentary staffer and former hairdressing salon-owner Ria Bond.

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters is scheduled to hold a press conference in Invercargill this afternoon to confirm a new MP.

The National Party's support has remained steady despite its defeat in the Northland by-election, a new poll shows.

Treaty Minister Chris Finlayson says the impasse over Ngapuhi's settlement is largely personality-driven andNZ First leader Winston Peters could help resolving it.

New Zealand First is supporting a campaign for the referendum on changing the flag to first ask whether people want it changed at all.

Winston Peters sounds genuinely interested in a request from subtribes of Ngapuhi to intercede in the dispute that is standing in the way of a Treaty settlement the Northland region needs.

Newly-elected Northland MP Winston Peters has been called on to resolve a dispute that has held up a Treaty settlement for the country's largest iwi.

Less than 25h after a stunning victory, Winston Peters was up to his old petulant antics in a way that made the Aussie cricketers look like models of good sportsmanship, writes Paul Little.

Winston Peters' triumph in the Northland byelection signals the most serious challenge he has mounted to National in two decades, writes John Armstrong.

At the moment, the only thing standing between New Zealand and its total loss of sovereignty is Winston Peters, writes Dita De Boni.

Tactical campaigning in the Northland byelection could get one candidate in trouble after he urged voters to vote for Winston Peters instead of himself.

Winston Peters’ first contribution to parliamentary proceedings in his new guise as MP-elect for Northland must rank among his more bizarre interventions.

Winston Peters cut a swathe through the wealthier parts of the Northland electorate in Saturday's byelection, securing the most votes in the National bastion of Kerikeri and matching the number cast....

NZ First leader Winston Peters says Prime Minister John Key is "acting like a spoilt brat" by saying he doubted Mr Peters would work constructively with National.

Prime Minister John Key says losing Northland in yesterday's byelection was disappointing but he was "pretty philosophical" about it.

Winston Peters' victory is an astonishing achievement. He cleaned out National. He cleaned out Labour, writes Rodney Hide.

It surely does not get much better than this for Winston Peters, writes John Armstrong.