It was at the same venue as the National Party's conference the week before, but the Labour Party "congress" came in a different colour.

Labour will fund an extra 2000 teachers under its policy to reduce primary class sizes to 26 students by 2016 - a step expected to cost $350m over the next three years.

Australia's Labor Party leader Bill Shorten says it is not inappropriate for him to visit NZ so close to an election, but still managed to get the PM's name wrong.

Labour has opened the final day of its annual conference, with Party President Moira Coatsworth telling the delegates Labour expected the election to go “down to the wire.”

Labour has unveiled its campaign slogan for the 2014 election will be "Vote Positive."

Labour's new teaching policies are response to National's proposal to pay good teachers and principals more and require them to work with others.

In 1898 New Zealand was favoured with a visit from Sydney and Beatrice Webb. This English couple were early members of the Fabian Society, a progressive political movement that was an important driver in the formation of the British Labour Party.

The Australian Labor Party leader said he believes improvements can be made to the rights of NZers living in Australia, but stopped short of making any specific commitments.

Labour leader David Cunliffe says Labour will ensure all school children from Year 5 to 13 have their own personal tablet or netbook by 2017 under a plan estimated to cost $109 million over three years.

Tomorrow's keynote address by Cunliffe to what is Labour's election-year "congress" will delve deeply into personal stuff - his background, education, motivations and so on, writes John Armstrong.

Today we investigate David Cunliffe's family background, outline his life up until he entered politics and discuss ambition, love, scandal, duty, faith and trace his lineage to "King Dick" Seddon.

Labour will kick off its election year Congress today by promising an upgrade programme for ageing school buildings to ensure all schools have modern facilities by 2030.

For each general election since 2008, the Herald has undertaken an in-depth project on the person challenging to be Prime Minister.

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

The top 10 unknown facts about Labour leader David Cunliffe, including his links to King Dick Seddon and the Brunner mine disaster.

Labour's grant of an extra $100 a year for each pupil for state-funded schools will probably succeed in ending charges for all but the richest schools and that would be a pity, writes John Roughan.

I bet Labour wishes it wasn't an election year, writes Mike Hosking.

Editorial: The Labour Party has always struggled with the concept of "voluntary" school donations.

A former Labour Minister intervened three times in the immigration bid of Donghua Liu including waiving the English language requirement for the millionaire businessman.

Labour's plan to help struggling parents by tackling school donations is a political ploy- but at least it recognises the 'voluntary' nonsense, one principal says.

If the Budget Bill English delivered in May was fiscally responsible and appropriately countercyclical.

Labour wants to end "voluntary" school donations by offering a grants of $100 per student to schools that stop asking parents to fund "day to day" spending.

The Government is hoping to pass home affordability legislation to limit council charges on developers in the eight sitting days left before the election.

David Cunliffe says Trevor Mallard's plan to resurrect and reintroduce the moa to Lower Hutt is "not going to fly".

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.

Wages have only gone up $34.53 annually against house prices, which are up by $38,000, according to a new report. Which regions fared the worst?

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.