This Labour Party election breaks new ground in New Zealand politics. For the first time the leader of a major party will be chosen by more than just the party's MPs.

There is something terribly wrong in the Labour Party.

Several Labour MPs are openly stating who they support in the leadership race after David Cunliffe one-upped the other candidates.

David Cunliffe put his hat in the ring for the Labour leadership with an identical announcement to that of his opponent Grant Robertson.

Shane Jones will not win Labour's leadership ballot. But he may well be one of the ultimate winners from the party-wide contest, writes John Armstrong.

Prime Minister John Key says he is not bothered by any of Labour's leadership candidates, but whoever takes the reins will shift the party further to the political left.

"I'm not running to be the Pope, I'm running to be the leader of the Labour Party." Shane Jones' colourful past won't stop him having a crack at the leadership.

Deputy Labour leader Grant Robertson is the first contender to confirm he will contest the leadership following David Shearer's resignation last week.

The six affiliated unions casting votes in Labour's first party-wide leadership vote will not be allowed to bloc vote and nor will the individual delegates casting the votes.

When the Wellington cocktail party set starts chattering openly about Labour's leadership, using slogans about how a "fish stinks from its head", it is obvious something is up.

Labour says it will weed out members of the National Party's youth wing and affiliates who may have tried to switch sides this week in a light-hearted attempt to influence Labour's leadership vote.

Labour list MP Shane Jones is sounding out supporters before deciding whether to throw his hat in the ring for the party leadership.

By the time a new leader is announced on September 15, it will be nine months since David Cunliffe put his grand ambition away in a box.

There is an old saying that being the Leader of the Opposition is the worst job in politics. The role has one rather large thing going for it, however.

Labour's MPs, members and affiliated unions will elect their new leader on September 15 and contestants will be subject to a code of conduct to stop personal attacks.

David Cunliffe being Labour's leader worries National far more than Grant Robertson, the only other viable contender, getting the job, writes John Armstrong.

Labour Party members have reacted with surprise at David Shearer's decision to step down, but fellow MPs described him as a "nice guy" whose time was up.

David Shearer took a cautious approach early in his leadership of Labour and during his initial honeymoon period the party recovered in the polls from its worst election result in generations.

A group of Labour MPs were planning a motion of no confidence against party leader David Shearer at the caucus meeting on Tuesday - a step pre-empted by his resignation.

Editorial: David Shearer's shortcomings as a politician were harshly exposed during his short time as the leader of the Labour Party. He knew when the game was up.

We bring you the latest updates on David Shearer's decision to stand down and the race to find a new Labour leader.

Support for Labour and Greens has overtaken National as Parliament debates controversial spying law changes, the latest Morgan Poll shows.

If Labour leader David Shearer wants a tip from a winner, former Prime Minister Helen Clark says her advice is always to "be yourself".

Rodney Hide says the Labour Party has three possible policy responses to any problem: tax it, throw money at it or regulate it.

Former Cabinet minister David Benson-Pope is planning a political comeback.

Real estate agency bosses don't back the Labour Party's foreign house buyer exclusion policy, saying sheer lack of supply is the nub of the issue.

Plans by the Labour Party to exclude foreign buyers from the housing market have sparked more calls for restrictions and warnings about the risk of damaging the country's relationships with its major trading partners.

Those of us following politics are witnessing the destruction of a party leader, says Rodney Hide.