National's $212 million plan to fast-track regional road projects using asset sales cash is not backed by a strong economic case, OIA documents reveal.

MPs have headed off on the campaign trail with one last blast at their rivals.

Ms Turei tells the story over cups of hot chocolate - fortified with Bailey's against a chilly evening.

The National Policy Statement (NPS) for freshwater may not have razzmatazz, but it arose from that exercise in consensual collaboration called the Land and Water Forum.

The Green Party announced plans to immediately ban deep sea drilling around NZ’s coast if the Greens form the next government.

Greens co-leader Metiria Turei was "extremely nervous" about the party's billboard campaign using pictures of hungry, barefoot kids and a beach clean up from the Rena.

The Greens have unveiled a policy to extend 20 hours a week of free early childhood education to 2-year-olds.

The Green Party wants 20 hours' free early childhood education extended to two-year-olds, which would affect 40,000 more children.

The Green Party wants to inject an additional $1 billion into research and development as part of its key economic strategy, it revealed this morning.

The Green Party's plan to restrict dams and irrigation schemes, and make rivers clean enough to swim in, would save taxpayer money.

The Green Party is aiming to make every river in New Zealand clean enough to swim in.

Collisions, ill-timed power failures, near misses and fires are among more than 50 dodgy incidents involving ships around our coasts over the past year.

The Opposition's role is to hold the government to account plus present itself as an alternative administration.

Most Labour voters prefer the Green Party to NZ First if Labour only needs one of them after the election.

Editorial: The history of the West Coast is one of boom and bust. Such fluctuations in fortune are the lot of local economies based on extractive industries.

The Green Party has dismissed the new bottom lines as "weak" and argues the measures mean rivers will only have to be clean enough for wading or boating.

The Labour and Green party coffers will receive a $120,000 boost for the election from unions that are also hoping to mobilise thousands of members to push for a change of Government.

The Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union has donated $60,000 to the Labour Party and $15,000 to the Green Party, the union announced this morning.

The roading announcement was also part of a wider strategy to convince voters that the Greens will be the driving force of any post-election coalition, writes John Armstrong.

Adoption is being used by migrants as a way to "sneak" their relatives into the country, immigration advisers say.

New Herald poll shows Internet-Mana would get two MPs, as their success eats into the Greens vote while National is still well ahead of Labour.

Yet another poll - the Herald-DigiPoll survey today - suggests National is heading for a decisive re-election in September.

There are three rules of New Zealand politics. Never criticise farmers. Never ask why cannabis is illegal and never, ever mention abortion.

With 100 days to go until election day on September 20, the political parties - no doubt fibbing through clenched teeth - profess to be ready. Or close enough.

The Green Party wants New Zealand to embrace 3D printing technology by encouraging its use in schools, universities and business.

The downfall of John Banks may have seemed the story of the week. But the feasting by the mob on what was left of his dignity was essentially a sideshow, if a rather unsavoury one, writes John Armstrong.

Taxpayer funding for National and Labour's election campaign broadcast advertising has been cut for this year's election but the Greens and NZ First will enjoy a substantial boost.

The Green Party wants to make abortion freely available to women up to 20 weeks pregnant.