The Reserve Bank is watching the housing market, but at this point not so much like a hawk as like a dove, writes Brian Fallow.

If any bias has been on display it is Norman's against the banks, commercial and central, writes Brian Fallow.

It was one small step for the Labour Party, but in terms of a morale boost it was one giant leap for party leader David Shearer, writes Claire Trevett.

National still believes that all growth is good growth, but it isn't, writes Russel Norman. "Growth that leads to more debt, pollution and environmental destruction is bad growth."

Recent polls have shown that Labour's popularity is on the rise, with one indicating Labour, with support of the Greens, would hold enough seats to run Government.

New Reserve Bank powers and quantitative easing are among tools that could wean us off debt without hurting economy, writes Russell Norman.

Labour says it has not taken a position on whether to back the United States proposal for a large reserve in the Antarctic's Ross Sea.

It is appalling that so many of our rivers are not clean enough for swimming.The reason is obvious. This is a farming country.

A Wairarapa school will be closed for its first day of term today so its pupils can attend the funeral of a 10-year-old schoolmate killed in a quad bike crash.

Kim Dotcom has issued a call for whistleblowers to leak information about his case to the media in the wake of spy and police blunders.

Politics makes for strange bedfellows. This week, the Greens and a US congressional committee were united on the threat from Chinese communications giant Huawei.

A United States judge has allowed the case against Megaupload to proceed after throwing out an appeal from its founder Kim Doctom.

John Key insists he knew nothing about Kim Dotcom before this year, as new evidence reveals his office was told about Dotcom's bid to buy a Coatesville mansion last July.

John Key's explanation of how the illegal spying on Kim Dotcom occurred is wrong in law and could not have happened the way he describes, legal experts say.

A new inquiry into the official response to the Rena disaster will be announced this week to coincide with the first anniversary, the Herald understands.

A Greenpeace spoof of a Sealord advertisement has brought an angry reaction from Labour MP Shane Jones, who says it's anti-worker and duplicitous towards Maori.

Fears that chats with politicians while out shopping or at sport could breach code.