The key question is whether Labour will stay on song with the bilateral positioning that has assured NZ extraordinary clout in trade negotiations, writes Fran O'Sullivan.

David Cunliffe has come under pressure to reveal whether a Labour-led Government would tear up National's pokies-for-convention centre deal with SkyCity.

Former Labour MP Chris Carter says he was lucky to escape possible death after a suicide car bomb exploded metres away from his Afghanistan home.

Labour's caucus meeting today will be the first MP Trevor Mallard has attended since he was demoted by new leader David Cunliffe.

A Labour Party candidate in the first Super City elections denies he committed electoral fraud.

Former Labour Cabinet minister John Tamihere's bid to test the water for a political comeback has landed him a seat on the Waitakere Licensing Trust Board

The Labour Party under David Cunliffe already looks sharper than the David Shearer version, writes Liam Dann, when it comes to picking up on business and economic issues and turning them into ammunition for political attack.

We now have a real choice, writes Bryan Gould. It's no longer enough for John Key to smile while coasting and ignoring public opinion. We have a real clash of ideas.

A Labour Government would "turn back the tide'' of National's "anti worker'' employment legislation, David Cunliffe told the Council of Trade Unions' conference today.

Labour's trade spokesman and a former Trade Minister Phil Goff says he understands why the Government is not releasing text of the Trans Pacific Partnership agreement.

Former Labour Cabinet minister John Tamihere admits he is testing the water for a full-scale political comeback by standing for election to two local government positions.

Almost 100,000 Kiwis have had personal details accidentally released under National, says Labour leader.

Labour's new leader, David Cunliffe, is having something of a dream run, writes Brian Rudman. For nearly a month, the party's leadership roadshow dominated the political news headlines.

David Cunliffe had said his new front bench would be based on merit rather than composed along factional lines, says Matt McCarten.

Labour's Phil Goff is back in business, adding his strong and rational voice to New Zealand's advocacy for the completion of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP).

When it comes to commenting on opinion polls, there is a simple rule that all politicians should follow. Don't do it.

To be sacked twice as a Cabinet minister in one parliamentary term would set some kind of unfortunate record. It's not for Nick Smith yet, writes John Armstrong.

John Key puts Labour's rocketing rise in a new Herald-Digipoll down to coverage of its recent leadership race.

Hereditary leaders belong in the pages of old copies of the National Geographic, writes Brian Rudman

Labour leader said to have singled out economy, inequality gap, environment and strengthening national identity.

Sue Moroney and Nanaia Mahuta have stepped up in prominent roles in new Labour leader David Cunliffe's frontbench reshuffle.

John Key remains well ahead of new Labour leader David Cunliffe as preferred Prime Minister, a new poll shows.

After five dark years, the Labour Party have their mojo back, says Matt McCarten.

Dear David, or do you prefer Dave? As one son of a preacher man to another, here's some gratuitous advice to add to the torrent you've no doubt already been inundated with.

It may be too soon to say what sort of leader David Cunliffe will make for Labour, but it's not too soon to say what sort of leader he wants to be.

David Cunliffe had been Labour leader for barely 24 hours before he was boldly declaring he had put his party on a "war footing".

I celebrated the 120th anniversary of women's suffrage by going down to Parliament to stand in the public galleries while Labour MP Lianne Dalziel made her valedictory speech.

The bout everyone had been waiting for began just before 2pm with a lengthy handshake, and ended with Cunliffe bruised, writes John Armstrong.

Why can't an independent body fairly decide what a job should be paid? Or at least set a base living wage which people can actually live on, asks Brian Rudman.